Pope Francis and members of his international Council of Cardinals have discussed ways that the principles behind his reform of the Roman Curia also can be reflected in the structuring and functioning of diocesan chanceries. Source: NCR Online.
At the end of the council’s meeting on June 26-27, the Vatican press office said one of the items on the agenda had been the beginning of a “reflection on how to implement the spirit, principles and criteria of the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium (“Preach the Gospel”) in the diocesan curias”.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, a professor of canon law at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University and a top canonical adviser to the pope and various Vatican offices, joined the members of the Council of Cardinals for the discussion, the Vatican said.
The apostolic constitution, published in 2022, called for the “missionary conversion” of the Church and of its structures to better serve the Church’s mission of preaching the Gospel. An important part of that effort, it said, was strengthening the Church’s “synodal” nature so that all the baptised listen to one another and share responsibility for the Church’s mission.
The constitution also emphasised the need for Church offices to promote the spirituality of employees, as well as their “personal integrity and professionalism” and cooperation across offices and areas of expertise.
The council members also were joined by Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, for a discussion on synodality “with an update on the steps taken in recent months” in preparation for the synod’s first general assembly in October, the press office said.
In addition, the press office said, the work of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors was discussed and “the ongoing conflict in Ukraine was the subject of reflection.”
FULL STORY
Pope, Council of Cardinals look at need to reform diocesan chanceries (By Cindy Wooden, CNS via NCR Online)
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