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The Council of Cardinals
has delivered its proposal to Pope Francis for a new dicastery on “charity,
justice and peace”, and has also completed its
investigation on the revision of different Congregations: the Doctrine
of the Faith, Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Causes of
the Saints, the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
This was reported by Fr Federico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press
Office, on Wednesday morning, 8 June, in a briefing on the Council of
Cardinals” fifteenth meeting, which opened on Monday morning, 6 June, and
concluded on Wednesday evening, 8 June.
The new dicastery is expected to incorporate the existing
compentencies of the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace, Cor Unum, for
Health Care Workers, for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
During the meetings “ at which all the members of the council were present as
was the Pope, with the exception of Wednesday morning due to the general
audience “ consultations were dedicated to the further consideration of various
departments of the Roman Curia, which was already a subject of reflection in
previous meetings, in view of the new apostolic constitution. In particular:
the Congregation for Bishops, the Secretariat of State, the Congregation for
Catholic Education, for the Eastern Churches, for the Clergy, the Pontifical
Councils of Culture, for the Promotion of Christian Unity, and for
Interreligious Dialogue.
Father Lombardi also
explained some of the criteria applied over the course of the reflections: the
simplification, harmonization of the tasks of the various entities, and
possible forms of decentralization in favour of the Bishops” Conferences.
Cardinal Marx, Coordinator
of the Council for the Economy, and Cardinal Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat
for the Economy, presented a follow-up communication on the topics covered.
Msgr Dario Edoardo Viganò, Prefect of the Secretariat for Communications,
outlined the progress of reform in Holy See communications. He also spoke about
the ongoing consideration of organization and process of production, and in
particular the integration of Vatican Radio and the Vatican Television Center,
which will take place this year. The Council expressed gratitude and
encouragement for proceeding along the chosen path.
Cardinal O”Malley provided an update on the activities of the Pontifical
Commission for the Protection of Minors and introduced an exchange of
reflections on the new motu proprio “As a loving mother”, promulgated last
Saturday, 4 June.
This year the Council will meet again
from 12 to 14 September and 12 to 14 December.
