Vatican City, Dec 14, 2016 / 07:22 am
Pope Francis' Council of Cardinals met for the 17th time this week, with synodality and the Church's "missionary drive" forming the basis of the discussion on how reform of the Curia's various departments will move forward.
Discussion largely centered around the role of the Secretary of State and the Congregations for the Evangelization of Peoples (Propaganda Fides), for Bishops, and for Oriental Churches.
According to a Dec. 14 communique from the Vatican, the "fundamental" themes of "missionary push" and "synodality" emerged as guidelines during the Dec. 12-14 discussion. In the past, the council has also emphasized the need for greater harmonization and simplification in the Curia.
In this round of meetings, the cardinals handed the Pope their completed studies on several Vatican dicasteries, including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, for Saints Causes and for Christian Unity, which Francis must himself now study and approve.