Vatican
City, 2 May 2013
(VIS) – On 13 April, the news that Pope Francis had established a
group of eight cardinals to advise him on the government of the
universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic
Constitution on the Roman Curia, “Pastor Bonus” was made public.
The decision generated great interest and, at the same time, more
than a few speculations. Yesterday, 1 May, Archbishop Angelo Becciu,
substitute of the Secretariat of State, gave an interview on this
topic to the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, from which
ample extracts are given below.
Osservatore
Romano: Much speculation has been heard regarding the reform of the
Curia: the balance of power, economic “super-ministers”,
revolutions, etc...
Archbishop
Becciu: "Actually, it is a little strange. The Pope has not yet
met with the group of advisers who have been chosen and already
advice is raining down. After having spoken with the Holy Father, I
can say that, at this moment, it is absolutely premature to put
forward any hypothesis about the future structure of the Curia. Pope
Francis is listening to everyone but, in the first place, he will
want to listen to those whom he has chosen as advisers. Following
that, a project of reform of the 'Pastor Bonus' will be outlined,
which will obviously have to follow its own process."
OR:
Likewise, much has been said about the IOR, the Institute for
Religious Works. Some have gone so far as to predict its elimination.
AB:
"The Pope was surprised to see words attributed to him that he
never said and that misrepresent his thoughts. The only mention about
it was during a brief homily at the Santa Marta, made off the cuff,
in which he passionately recalled how the essence of the Church
consists in a story of love between God and human beings, and how the
various human structures, the IOR among them, should be less
important. His reference was a mention, motivated by the presence of
some of the employees of the IOR at the Mass, in the context of a
serious invitation to never lose sight of the essential nature of the
Church."
OR:
Should we expect that a restructuring of the current organization of
dicasteries may not be imminent?
AB:
"I don't know how to predict the timing. The Pope, in any case,
has asked us all, the heads of dicasteries, to continue in our
service, without, however, wanting to proceed for the moment in
confirming any positions. The same holds for the members of the
Congregations and the Pontifical Councils: the normal cycle of
confirmations or nominations, which occur at end of five-year
mandates, is for the moment suspended, and everyone continues in
their assigned job 'until otherwise provided for' ('donec aliter
provideatur'). This indicates the Holy Father's desire to take the
time needed for reflection—and for prayer, we must not forget—in
order to have the full picture of the situation."
OR:
Regarding the group of advisers, some have argued that such a choice
might put the Pope's primacy in question...
AB:
It is a consultative, not a decision-making, body and I truly do not
see how Pope Francis' choice might put the primacy in question.
However, it is true that it is a gesture of
great importance, which means to send a clear signal regarding the
way in which the Holy Father would like to exercise his ministry. We
must not forget the first task that has been
assigned to the group of eight cardinals: to assist the
pontiff in the government of the universal Church. I would not like
for curiosity regarding the arrangement and the structures of the
Roman curia to overshadow the profound meaning of Pope Francis'
gesture.
OR:
But isn't the expression “to advise” a little too vague?
AB:
On the contrary, advising is an important task that is theologically
defined in the Church and that finds expression on many levels.
Think, for example, of the bodies participating in dioceses and
parishes, or of councils of superiors, provincials, and generals in
the Institutes of consecrated life. The function of advising must be
interpreted in theological terms: from a
worldly perspective we should say that a council without
decision-making power is irrelevant but that would mean equating the
Church to a business. Instead, theologically, advising has a function
of absolute importance: helping the superior in the task of
discernment, in understanding what the Spirit asks of the Church in a
precise historical moment. Without this reference, for that matter,
it wouldn't even be possible to understand the true meaning of the
action of government in the Church.
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