Pell Jets to Rome after Appointment

News.com.au
April 14, 2013

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/pope-advisory-group-to-revamp-church/story-e6frfku9-1226620126235

AUSTRALIA'S most senior Catholic Cardinal George Pell says he'll work with seven other high ranking churchmen appointed by the Pope to a new Vatican panel to bring "better discipline" to the church and avoid "Vatileaks" type scandals.

Cardinal Pell, 71, is being hailed as a voice for Oceania on the permanent advisory group.

He was appointed by Pope Francis on Saturday night alongside six other cardinals and one Monsignor.

Cardinal Pell said in his new role he would help the Pope in "anyway I can".

"I am very sure the Holy Father will be working for a better discipline," Cardinal Pell told the ABC on Sunday.

"There has been a spot of bother as we know in the Vatican, with the butler leaking the papers and other allegations.

"Most of the people working in the Curia are very, very fine people, but there were one or two mishaps."

Reform of the Roman Curia - the Church's governing body - was a much-cited issue during the run-up to the conclave that elected the new pope last month.

After Pope Benedict's historic resignation in February, Cardinal Pell criticised the Curia and its governance during Vatileaks, the 2012 scandal involving leaked papal papers that shed light on alleged infighting and financial impropriety among leading Curia members.

A spokeswoman for the Sydney Archdiocese told AAP that the scandal would likely be on new committee members' minds.

"There is no definitive agenda at this stage," she said on Sunday.

"It's only just happened, but there hopefully will be (scope) to avoid, for example, any future Vatileaks."

She said Cardinal Pell was flying to Rome on Sunday evening as part of a pre-arranged visit and would likely consult widely in the Catholic community ahead of the panel's first meeting from October 1-3.

"I think he's looking forward to the additional role, and whatever contribution he can make," she said.

He will remain based in Sydney but will travel to Rome.

Australia's first resident ambassador to the Holy See, Tim Fischer, said the panel appointments were an "inspirational" choice.

"I congratulate Cardinal George Pell on his appointment and note that every continent in the world is represented in the skilful selection made by Pope Francis in just his first month in office," Mr Fischer told AAP on Sunday.

"Certainly this new cabinet, or council, of cardinals of advice is a beacon pointing the way ahead by the new Pope in relation to re-balancing and revamping the church."

The other cardinals selected are from Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Asia.

The panel make-up has been interpreted as an indication that Pope Francis wants to reflect the universal nature of the church in its core decision-making.

Cardinal Pell welcomed the mixture of ideas that would come with the different backgrounds of advisers.

"I think different perspectives will be useful and a few English-speaking perspectives won't hurt."