AUSTRALIA
The Age

The appointment of eight advisers, including the Archbishop of Sydney George Pell, to a new Vatican panel will help revamp the Catholic church, former Australian ambassador to the Holy See Tim Fischer says.

Cardinal Pell is one of seven cardinals and one monsignor – the others are from Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Asia – appointed to the group by Pope Francis.

In its announcement on Saturday, the Vatican said Francis got the idea to form the advisory body from the pre-conclave meetings.

“He has formed a group of cardinals to advise him in the governing of the universal church and to study a revision of the apostolic constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia,” the statement said.

Mr Fischer welcomed the announcement.