The Pope has picked his wartime Consiglieres, a group of Cardinals to advise him on how to reform the Roman Curia.
In a highly significant and ground-breaking move, indicating a new, more collegial style of leadership, Pope Francis has chosen a group of eight cardinals, from all continents and the Roman Curia, to act as his special advisors in governing the Catholic Church and reforming the Roman Curia.
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AFRICA: Cardinal Laurent Monswengo Pasinya, 73, archbishop of Kinshasha in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, former president of SECAM – the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (1997-2003) and co-president of Pax Christi International (2007-2009);
ASIA: Cardinal Oswald Gracias, 68, archbishop of Bombay, India, the current President of the FABC, the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences;
EUROPE: Cardinal Reinhard Marx, 69, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, in the Federal Republic of Germany; Since 2012 he has been president of COMECE – the Bishops Conferences of the European Community;
LATIN AMERICA: Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, 79, emeritus Archbishop of Santiago de Cile, Chile, he was president of CELAM – the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Latin America ( 2003-2007);
NORTH AMERICA: Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, OFM, 66, archbishop of Boston, US Bishops Conference;
OCEANIA: Cardinal George Pell, 71, the archbishop of Sydney, Australia;
ROMAN CURIA: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, 70, the Italian-born Holy See diplomat and currently President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State;
COORDINATOR: Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, S.D.B.,70, archbishop of Tegucigapla, Honduras, will coordinate the Group..
SECRETARY: Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano diocese, Italy, will serve as the secretary of the group.
Most of this group is from the field (so to speak) and not from the curia itself. The group itself will not meet until October this year, so it is unclear what, if anything, will happen between now and then.
April 13, 2013 at 2:12 pm
I must admit my woefully inadequate knowledge of 6 out of 8 of these men, but I'm a huge fan of Cardinal Pell and Cardinal O'Malley seems like a solid choice as well. I wouldn't have minded seeing Ouellet and Scola on the list, but il Papa knows these men much better than I do.
April 13, 2013 at 5:30 pm
I wanted to post this today on Smicha's site, but comments were closed. Maybe you can rally everyone. Simcha – Please!!!! Ask all Norus Ordo Catholics to condemn anti-Semitism! One of the new Cardinal advisors appointed by Pope Francis has been called an anti-Semite by many mainstream news outlets. There are anti-Semites among us!!!!!! Please – Everyone!!! Do Something!!! http://www.timesofisrael.com/dershowitz-says-contender-for-papacy-an-anti-semite/
April 13, 2013 at 6:24 pm
Anonymous – either post on the topic that Patrick wrote about or please go away.
April 13, 2013 at 6:28 pm
It is on the topic. His name is listed above.
April 13, 2013 at 6:36 pm
Oy anon. We're all Catholic. It means universal. The rite to which we belong, the liturgy we prefer, they're immaterial; they're all Catholic.
Why am I now thinking of Dr. Bombay?
April 13, 2013 at 6:37 pm
I'll go away. Sorry I gave what I thought was pertinent information. #Gosnell
April 14, 2013 at 5:40 am
"Wartime"? So optimisitic. Let's all hope that *something* happens, but I'll be pretty darn surprised if it does.
April 14, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Nathan,
You said you must admit your inadequate knowledge of 6 out of 8 of these men, but you are a huge fan of Cardinal O'Malley, who seems to you like a solid choice as well.
After you read several posts from the Boston Catholic Insider blog, I'd be curious if you're still a fan of Cardinal O'Malley:
http://bostoncatholicinsider.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/newsflash-cardinal-omalley-named-to-vatican-reform-committee/
http://bostoncatholicinsider.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/cardinal-sean-omalley-fact-and-fiction-about-his-papability/
The truth is that he has failed to govern his own diocese and has basically abdicated governance. Why should anything think he will bring expertise to governance of the universal Catholic Church?
April 14, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Abdication of the duty to preach, teach, sanctify is the hallmark of the Bishops and priests of our times, sadly. In many countries in the world, there is no Biahop who courageously, faithfully, obediently leads the Faithful in the full truth regarding Faith and Morals. In vast swathes of Catholic dioceses, there is no Church leader opposing the marauding evil coming from states, international fora, Media, which the Faithful are assaulted with constantly, to the point of indoctrination of their children, and persecution of those who oppose the evil being forced on us. With a few exceptions, the silence and lack of leadership or even support, from Bishops and priests, is shocking. Thank God for the good priests and Bishops who get persecuted from both inside and outside the Church.
April 14, 2013 at 6:32 pm
Leave the liberation theology. Take the cannoli.
April 14, 2013 at 7:58 pm
The co-president of Pax Christi, a leftist dissent group. A liberal American cardinal disliked by pro-lifers. A young German cardinal who promotes global socialism. Nice roundup so far, Pope Francis…
April 14, 2013 at 10:09 pm
Is it too naive of me to hope he reconsider some choices prior to the board convening?
April 14, 2013 at 10:17 pm
With a few exceptions, the silence and lack of leadership or even support, from Bishops and priests, is shocking.
Lynda, that's what happens when you have a caste (and I don't use that term loosely) of "leaders" who value their privledges and ease more than their pastoral responsibilities. This isn't just a Catholic problem. Read Ezekiel 34.
The co-president of Pax Christi, a leftist dissent group. A liberal American cardinal disliked by pro-lifers. A young German cardinal who promotes global socialism. Nice roundup so far, Pope Francis…
Perhaps Pope Francis really is the "false prophet," who will look like a lamb but roar like a lion.
I strongly suggest that all of you check out Pope Leo XIII's vision of the future of the Catholic Church. It's the basis for the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Then ask yourselves this question:
If the archangels are loyal subordinates of the Triune God, and one Member of that Trinity gives Satan permission to do anything, do you think that any archangel will countermand that permission?
Think about that. Think about it seriously.
April 15, 2013 at 2:11 am
The Curia is not likely to bend over to some advisory group. The reform is not a foregone conclusion. Even so, the pope's choice in advisors is telling and wise.
April 15, 2013 at 6:17 am
"Is it too naive of me to hope he reconsider some choices prior to the board convening?"
Yes. Yes it is. I fear that, as American Catholics, our priorities and even our apprehension of concepts like "reform" is quite different from Pope Francis. Hang on.
April 15, 2013 at 3:05 pm
I wish someone would explain to me why the Curia needs to be reformed and how it would help, and help what. Just who started barking for curial reform? Would it suddenly make men good, and not be predators, or dissidents, or canonically stupid, or intellectually bankrupt?
Whereas conservatives usually resist change with a view to the wisdom of history and the inevitability of sin, Leftists have a brilliant way of using crisis as a vehicle for dramatic social change. Often these crises are manufactured or little remedied by the change directed to solve them. How will the gun bill prevent another Newtown? How will Obamacare give us more and better healthcare?
I am so very skeptical that any of the men on this list are in any way conservative in the sense of first preserving Catholic heritage, but seem agenda-driven men who will harness the Church to serve social goals.
Thanks for all the good information in the comments about these fellows. Some are strange, worrisome choices.