In the days leading up to last month's Conclave in Rome, there was much discussion in the press about the subjects that were being talked about while the Cardinals met for the series of General Congregations: the meetings during which they discussed the current state of affairs.
Although the discussions between the Cardinals at that time are not typically shared with the outside world, it would seeem that one of the subjects treated was a suggestion that a group of Cardinals be convoked from time to time to advise the Pope on certain matters concerning the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia - Pastor Bonus.
One of the roles of all the Cardinals is to advise the Pope from time to time on matters pertaining to the governance of the Church, but it would seem more efficient to appoint a smaller group who could be consulted with more regularity, rather than having to convoke the entire College, therefore the Holy Father has asked the following Cardinals to assist him in the task of regular consultations pertaining to the governance of the Church. Their appointments were announced this morning.
His Eminence, Giuseppe Cardinal Bertello
President of the Governatorate of the Vatican City State
His Eminence, Francisco Javier Cardinal Errázuriz Ossa
Archbishop emeritus of Santiago de Chile
His Eminence, Oswald Cardinal Garcias
Archbishop of Bombay, India
His Eminence, Reinhard Cardinal Marx
Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Germany
His Eminence, Laurent Monsengwo Cardinal Pasinya
Archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
His Eminence, Sean Patrick Cardinal O'Malley, OFM Cap.
Archbishop of Boston, United States of America
His Eminence, George Cardinal Pell
Archbishop of Sydney, Austrailia
His Eminence, Oscar Andrés Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga, SDB
Archbishop ofTegucigalpa, Honduras
(in the role of Coordinator), and
His Excellency, Marcello Semeraro
Bishop of Albano, Italy
(in the role of Secretary).
The first meeting of this group of consultors is scheduled to take place at the Vatican from October 1 to 3 of this year, however His Holiness is already in contact with them.
During a briefing held this morning in the Vatican, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Frederico Lombardi, SJ explained that this new group of advisors is established exactly one month after Pope Francis was elected to the See of Peter, and shows that the Holy Father listens attentively to the suggestions of the College of Cardinals, who are his closest advisors.
He also noted that this group will not have any legislative power or authority, and that its main function is to help and advise the Pope. Father Lombardi was careful to explain that the group will in no way interfere in the normal functions of the Roman Curia, which assists the Pope with the daily governance of the Church.
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