Cardinals weigh creation of two new Vatican congregations

September 17, 2014

The Council of Cardinals has concluded a 3-day session, during which the nine papal advisers discussed a plan to merge several pontifical councils. The Council also began drafting a new apostolic constitution on the organization of the Roman Curia.

In a briefing for reporters on September 17, Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, said that the Council of Cardinals has now completed its work on the economic affairs of the Vatican, with the inauguration of the new Secretariat for the Economy, under Cardinal George Pell, and the Council for the Economy supervising his work.

The Council of Cardinals is now concentrating on the reorganization of the Roman Curia, Father Lombardi disclosed. He said that two main themes had emerged during this week’s discussions.

The first major theme, he said, was pastoral care for the laity and family life. The other involved Catholic social teaching, charitable work, peace efforts, and the environment. The emphasis on these two themes seemed to confirm speculation that the reorganization of the Curia could lead to the formation of two new congregations, addressed to these two themes. The first new congregation might combine the Pontifical Council for the Laity with the Pontifical Council for the Family and other offices. The second could merge the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace, for Migrants, Cor Unum, and other Vatican offices.

Father Lombardi reminded reporters that the Council of Cardinals is an advisory body, and any changes in the structure of the Curia would be made by Pope Francis after weighing the group’s recommendations. He said that the Pope would speak about proposed changes during his next meeting with the leaders of the Roman Curia.

Meanwhile, the Vatican spokesman said, the Council of Cardinals is beginning to draft an apostolic constitution for the Pope, in which he would lay out the new structure of the Curia. A draft of the introduction to that document was submitted at this week’s meetings, he said, and work on the constitution will continue during the next sessions of the Council, which are scheduled for December and February.

The Council of Cardinals also discussed two specific initiatives, Father Lombardi reported:

• The new papal Commission for the Protection of Minors, headed by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, is moving forward, after the appointment of its secretary, Msgr. Robert Oliver. More announcements on the work of this commission will be made soon, Father Lombardi said, and the full commission will hold its first meeting in early October.
• The commission on the media, chaired by Lord Chris Patten, will have its first meeting in Rome next week. That meeting will be devoted primarily to organizing the work of the commission.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Sixth meeting of the Council of Cardinals (VIS)
• Cardinals discussing mergers of pontifical councils, creation of new congregations? (CWN, 9/15)