Cardinal Pell: Vatican governance needs new Pope's attention

February 28, 2013

Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, has said that the Church needs a new Pope “who can lead the Church and pull it together a bit.”

While professing his admiration for Pope Benedict XVI, the Australian prelate said that under his leadership the government of the Church “wasn’t always done brilliantly.” Cardinal Pell placed the blame for administrative failing primarily on the Pope’s aides, adding that “this is said very commonly.” But some reporters interpreted the cardinal’s statement as a negative assessment of Pope Benedict’s management.

Pressed for a response to the Australian cardinal’s remarks, Father Thomas Rosica of the Vatican press office said that it would be inappropriate to comment. But he said that reporters should not exploit remarks made by cardinals who are not accustomed to speaking with the media.

In a related development, an American archbishop with experience in the Roman Curia agreed that the next Roman Pontiff should reform the administration of the Holy See. Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis, who previously served as secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life, said that there are “structures and trends that blunt the effectiveness of the Curia.” He said that reform of the Curia is “a reasonable priority to have, not so much to avoid scandals, but to provide for a government that will help the Holy Father exercise his Petrine service.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope resignation: cardinal criticises Benedict XVI on last day (Daily Telegraph)
• Vatican plays down Australian cardinal comments (AP)
• Curial reform 'reasonable priority' to help new pope, says US prelate (CNS)