Cardinal Pell: 8-cardinal panel will only advise Pope

April 23, 2013

The panel of 8 cardinals assembled by Pope Francis to advise him on Vatican administration will only provide suggestions, not set policies, emphasized one member of the new panel.

"We are not a policy making group we are not an executive group. We are there as advisors to the Holy Father," said Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia. He said that he was not yet sure how the committee would operate. The group's first meeting will be in October.

Cardinal Pell said that he had been surprised to be named to the Pope's committee, but hinted that he did expect some changes in Vatican administration under the new Pontiff. "I was surprised that he asked me, and I was surprised that it came in this form and so quickly," he said.

The Australian cardinal declined to offer any of his own suggestions about Vatican reforms, saying that he would make those suggestions directly to the Pontiff. "I don't want to appear to be putting any sort of pressure on him," he said.

 

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Further information:

• Card. Pell on Christ, the Church and group of 8 cardinals (Vatican Radio)
• Cardinal Pell: "We've got a Pope who's got mud on his boots" (Vatican Insider)