Pope convenes with Cardinals to reform curia and missionary outreach

Pope Francis convened the two-day meeting with the Cardinals to focus on the reform of the curia and missionary outreach.

The meeting mainly discussed the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia and its service to the Church in the world "Praedicate Evangelium" (Preach the gospel) at the new Synod New Hall in Rome on August 29-30.

"Praedicate Evangelium is not just something for the reform of the Curia, it is also regarding the relationship between all the Bishops' Conferences and the Holy See. Mission and conversion involve everyone in an almost synodal process. We could say we are a Church on pilgrimage," Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, Cardinal Arthur Roche said.

The newly created Cardinal Roche underscores the issues to reflect on: collaboration between the Curia and bishops, the responsibility of the laity, "missionary outreach"; and "conversion of the Church."

During the first day of the meeting, the reflection on Praedicate Evangelium focused on the vital role of communion in the Church and the missionary outreach of witnessing God’s love to all.

Italian Cardinal Enrico Feroci told Vatican News, "The cardinals addressed two main themes: that of communion, about witnessing to mutual love between Christians; and then the issue concerning the difficulty of today's society in being open to the Gospel message and ways to overcome these challenges."

The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, highlighted to Vatican News that the cardinals participated in the meeting with an open and lively dialogue on the missionary dimension as well as the need to focus on the greatest commandment of love for one another.

The Constitution introduces various changes in the structure of the Church. 

The merging and renaming of several dicasteries (departments) and offices 'broadens', in effect, the boundaries of the Curia by creating a direct link with the Episcopal Conferences and the Dioceses of the five continents. 

The constitution offers a more missionary structure to the Curia for the service of the local churches and evangelization efforts for the reform and global direction of the Church in our times.

Newly-created Cardinal Leonardo Steiner of Manaus (located in Brazil's Amazon) told Vatican News, "With the Constitution, there is now a space for listening and dialogue between the various churches and the Curia." 

The College of Cardinals is composed of members from different cultural backgrounds, pastoral sensitivity, and geographical locations. 

Cardinal Steiner added that there was a better sense of hope to be a more fraternal church where we listen, where we experience and appreciate cultural diversity.

The meeting creates the cardinals to "deepen their knowledge and understanding of one another." 

Colombian Cardinal Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal pointed out, "The Consistory and the meeting with the Pope help us to get to know one another, to feel more aware and prepare for the future."

Out of the College’s 226, about 200 cardinals, including the newly-created 20 cardinals, together with Eastern Patriarchs and Superiors of the Secretariat of State, attended the closed-door meeting on August 29-30.

This meeting would be the Pope’s largest and most attended meeting of the Cardinals since the 2014-15 synod on the family, to which about 180 bishops and cardinals were invited. 

The meeting will end with the Papal Mass on Tuesday at 5:30 pm in St. Peter’s Basilica with the newly-created cardinals. - With input from Vatican News