Pope Calls Special Meeting of Vatican Officials; Reforms on the Agenda?

Catholic Culture
September 9, 2013

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=18980

Pope Francis has called the leaders of the Roman Curia to a meeting on Tuesday, September 10.

Although the Vatican has not disclosed the purpose of the meeting, the Pope is likely to discuss plans for internal reforms at the Vatican. The meeting of dicastery officials comes nearly a month before the first official meeting of the council of 8 cardinals appointed to advice the Pope on Vatican reforms.

Pope Francis has already made the first critical appointment of his pontificate, choosing Archbishop Pietro Parolin to become Secretary of State. He has made several other important appointments to the Roman Curia, and created panels to scrutinize the financial dealings of the Vatican. But to date he has made no major changes in the structure of the Roman Curia.

John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter makes the perceptive observation that the letter calling Vatican officials to the September 10 meeting came from the prefecture of the papal household. In the past, such meetings would be convened by the Secretariat of State. That seemingly minor change could indicate an important shift in the Pope’s plans, signaling his intention to decrease the authority of the Secretariat of State over other Vatican offices.