This week was supposed to mark a major step forward in Pope Francis’ plans to reform the Roman Curia. During a reception on Tuesday at the Apostolic Palace, the Pope was scheduled to thank the outgoing Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB, and – more importantly – hand over the reins to his successor, Archbishop Pietro Parolin. But he told the gathering of state department officials and staff members there was a slight problem. The 58-year-old archbishop could not make the ceremony. Francis announced, with a slight chuckle in his voice, that he had to undergo a “small emergency surgery” and would not actually be arriving for “several weeks”. But neither the Pope, nor the Vatican spokesman, Fr Federico Lombardi SJ, would say exactly