Council of Cardinals concludes session; no decisions yet on reform of Roman Curia
December 12, 2014
The Council of Cardinals completed its 7th meeting on December 11 without reaching any final decision on the restructuring of the Roman Curia.
Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, reported that the 9-member council devoted itself to three main topic during this week’s meeting: the reform of the Curia, the establishment of the Commission for the Protection of Minors, and the economic affairs of the Vatican.
Pope Francis participated fully in the discussions during the 3-day meeting, Father Lombardi said. The Pontiff missed only the Wednesday working session that conflicted with his weekly public audience.
Regarding the reform of the Curia, Father Lombardi said, the Council of Cardinals discussed “the specific question of the reorganization of the pontifical councils that work in relation to the laity, the family, justice, peace and charity.” Cardinal Oscar Maradiago, the chairman of the council, recently said that two new Vatican congregations would be created to combine the functions of several existing agencies, with one congregation handling the laity and family issues while another addressed political, social, an charitable questions. However the details of the new plan have not been settled.
The Commission for the Protection of Minors, headed by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, will hold its first meeting in February. By that time the group will be enlarged to include about 18 members, Father Lombardi said.
Joseph Zahra, the layman who serves as coordinator of the Council for the Economy, addressed the cardinals on the reform of Vatican financial affairs. The Council for the Economy is expected to convene again before the next meeting of the Council of Cardinals, so that a more complete report on the reforms can be presented.
The Council of Cardinals will hold its next 3-day working session from February 9 to 11. That meeting will be followed by a special consistory of cardinals, at which the Council will introduce its proposals for reform of the Curia. That consistory, in turn, will be followed by the February 14-15 consistory for the creation of new members of the College of Cardinals.
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