C9 briefs consistory on reform

The group of cardinal advisers, known as the C9, counselling Pope Francis on reforms to the Roman Curia have met as part of the preparation for today’s consistory at which Francis is to create 20 new cardinals, many of them from outside Europe, writes Hannah Roberts.

The more than 100 cardinals attending the consistory were to be presented with the C9’s proposals for reform on Thursday and Friday. The advisory group met this week for the eighth time for three days of discussions with Pope Francis at his home, Domus Sanctae Marthae.

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith, this week told l’Osservatore Romano that Pope Francis was “pursuing a spiritual purification of the Temple”, adding that the “just decentralisation” would give bishops more responsibility.

The C9, formally known as the Council of Cardinals, is also drafting a new apostolic constitution to overhaul the organisation of the Curia, and is expected to brief colleagues today.

Fifteen of the prelates to whom Francis is to give the red hat today are under 80 and many hail from nations as far-flung as Tonga, Myanmar, Panama and Vietnam. Only one, Dominique Mamberti, is a member of the Curia.