Pope Francis Meets with Council of Cardinals

Vatican Radio
December 3, 2013

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/03/pope_francis_meets_with_council_of_cardinals/en1-752290

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Tuesday met for the second time with the 8-member Council of Cardinals to discuss the proposed reforms of the Roman Curia. The meeting will last until Wednesday. The first meeting took place in October.

In a press briefing, the head of the Holy See Press Office Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, stated the Cardinals have been gathering the insights of the bishops from their various regions of the world. The December meeting will focus on the various Dicasteries of the Curia, with the morning session devoted to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Father Lombardi reminded the journalists the Cardinals are not seeking “mere tweaks” to the current Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, but will create a “substantial” revision, that will probably end with a new Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia.

Father Lombardi also stated the Cardinals could be expected to meet the new Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin. He stated he did not foresee Archbishop Parolin participating in the meetings of the Council of Cardinals, although the Cardinals are “always free, of course, to invite others to attend meetings.”

In response to the questions of journalists, Father Lombardi said the Cardinals have widely consulted the various Dicasteries of the Curia, and invited their contributions before the discussions. He also confirmed the Council of Cardinals will come together again next February 17-18.