C9 Meeting to Discuss Curia Reform Is Underway

The Vatican confirmed today that active discussions regarding curial reform are taking place, but that “nothing formal has been decided.”

During a briefing held this afternoon in the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, informed journalists about the meeting of the C9. 

The plenary assembly of the Pope's "Council of Cardinals," often called the "C9," began yesterday and ends tomorrow in the Vatican.

The C9 is revisiting guidelines and proposals made for the reform of the Curia. Father Lombardi reiterated that the cardinals are continuing to discuss reforming the Curia, but noted there is nothing yet decided.

Yesterday afternoon, the Vatican spokesman said, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, spoke to the C9. The discussion was said to explore how some of the dicasteries could be grouped together.

This morning, Fr. Lombardi added, Monsignor Paul Tighe, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, spoke to the C9 on media in the Vatican. Fr. Lombardi explained that Monsignor Tighe presented an interim report to the cardinals on Vatican communications and offered some reflections.

However, Father Lombardi stressed there are not specifics yet on how Vatican communications will be reformed and noted the newly formed Vatican media committee will be continuing its work and research.

The Vatican Press Office director also told journalists present that there will be another briefing on the C9 at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

The Council of Cardinals consists of the following nine prelates: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State; Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, archbishop emeritus of Santiago, Chile; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay; Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich; Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo; Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, archbishop of Boston; Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy; Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

Following the plenary, the C9 will present and share what it has done and its reflections related to the Curia with the College of Cardinals, gathered for meetings Feb. 12-13. This meeting will be followed by the consistory for the creation of new cardinals Feb. 14-15. This marks the second consistory under Pope Francis' pontificate.