Pope’s curial reform centralizes, while CDF is marginalized.
by Andrea Gagliarducci
It was almost taken for granted that a reform of the Roman Curia, and in particular of the Secretariat of State, was going to take place. The General Congregations (i.e. the pre-conclave meeting) seemed to believe that the bad organization of the Curia was at the root of the poor management of the Church. Pope Francis diligently sought the men of the Curia of the old days, appointing Pietro Parolin as Secretary of State. The establishment of the Secretariat for the Economy opened the way, it seemed, to the establishment of new bodies on a par to a Secretariat of State diminished to a purely diplomatic role. However, all appears to be on hold now.
The Curia reform is in fact still taking shape. The deliberations of the Group of Eight Cardinals only brought about the establishment of a Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The general idea is that Pope Francis does not want a “Secretariat of the Pope”, i.e. a Secretariat of State the way it was conceived. Pope Francis is thinking, instead, about additional offices to share with him the functions of the government of the Church. It is rumored that there may be four new secretariats, i.e. four bodies of coordination and management between the Pope and the Vatican dicasteries.
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A role for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is missing, according to this concept of reform. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has always been called “the Supreme” since it provided the structural underpinnings of the Church. Beyond mere organization, there was an idea, a theology, a vision at the basis. From liturgy to Curia management. Currently, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith seems to be cut out from the four hypothesized Secretariats, and more probably inserted among the ranks of the Vatican “super-dicasteries” that should encompass the responsibilities of the elephantine Vatican machinery. Pope Francis has even let it be known that local bishops could be entrusted with some of the responsibilities of the Congregation. An idea which the Congregation could welcome (collegiality has always been one of its main goals) provided that it retained the role of central coordination.
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It was almost taken for granted that a reform of the Roman Curia, and in particular of the Secretariat of State, was going to take place. The General Congregations (i.e. the pre-conclave meeting) seemed to believe that the bad organization of the Curia was at the root of the poor management of the Church. Pope Francis diligently sought the men of the Curia of the old days, appointing Pietro Parolin as Secretary of State. The establishment of the Secretariat for the Economy opened the way, it seemed, to the establishment of new bodies on a par to a Secretariat of State diminished to a purely diplomatic role. However, all appears to be on hold now.
The Curia reform is in fact still taking shape. The deliberations of the Group of Eight Cardinals only brought about the establishment of a Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The general idea is that Pope Francis does not want a “Secretariat of the Pope”, i.e. a Secretariat of State the way it was conceived. Pope Francis is thinking, instead, about additional offices to share with him the functions of the government of the Church. It is rumored that there may be four new secretariats, i.e. four bodies of coordination and management between the Pope and the Vatican dicasteries.
...
A role for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is missing, according to this concept of reform. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has always been called “the Supreme” since it provided the structural underpinnings of the Church. Beyond mere organization, there was an idea, a theology, a vision at the basis. From liturgy to Curia management. Currently, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith seems to be cut out from the four hypothesized Secretariats, and more probably inserted among the ranks of the Vatican “super-dicasteries” that should encompass the responsibilities of the elephantine Vatican machinery. Pope Francis has even let it be known that local bishops could be entrusted with some of the responsibilities of the Congregation. An idea which the Congregation could welcome (collegiality has always been one of its main goals) provided that it retained the role of central coordination.
full article
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