Nearly 200 cardinals gather in Rome for the synod on church government

Nearly 200 cardinals of the Catholic Church have gathered in Rome for the first extraordinary council in more than seven years.

Predicate Evangelism (“Preach the Gospel” in English) is Pope Francis’ latest apostolic constitution that seeks to reform the Roman Curia, open Vatican policy to qualified lay people, and re-emphasize Catholic evangelism in our day. The document, which came into effect on June 5 this year, is at the center of the discussion.

The 197 cardinals, considered “princes of the church,” are meeting with the pontiff at the Vatican and are set to discuss the ramifications of the documents for church leadership inside and outside Rome.

This extraordinary consistory is only the second of the reign of Pope Francis.

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL REFUSES TO CHANGE LONG-STANDING POLICY EXCLUDING SEXUAL BEHAVIOR DESPITE ALLEGED DEATH THREATS

Pope Francis speaks to cardinals in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica during a Mass he celebrated for the newly created cardinals on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, which concludes a two-day consistory on the Praedicate Evangelium (Preach the Gospel) apostolic Constitution reforming the Roman Curia that was promulgated in March.
(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

The Roman Curia, also known as the Roman Court, is the highest administrative level of the Catholic Church and oversees matters of faith in a variety of areas, including doctrine, ecumenism, culture, education , charity, the appointment of bishops and much more.

Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution aims to largely preserve the structure of the curia, but re-emphasizes the cardinals’ responsibility to evangelize and work with the laity to find solutions to the church’s problems.

“This reform, actively approved by the majority of the cardinals of the General Congregations before the Conclave, should further clarify the identity of the Roman Curia in the assistance it provides to the successor of Peter in the exercise of his supreme pastoral office for the benefit and service of the universal Church and of the particular Churches,” says Predicate Evangelism. “This involves strengthening the unity of faith and the communion of God’s people and advancing the Church’s mission in the world. It will certainly not be easy to achieve this goal: it will take time, determination and, above all, the collaboration of everyone.”

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL REFUSES TO CHANGE LONG-STANDING POLICY EXCLUDING SEXUAL BEHAVIOR DESPITE ALLEGED DEATH THREATS

However, details of the meeting and details about the discussions are hard to come by: councils of cardinals remain largely in the media spotlight, and leaks can be hard to come by.

Newly created Cardinal Robert Walter McElroy, third from left, bishop of San Diego, leaves at the end of a mass for new cardinals celebrated by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022.
(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

A widely publicized target of the reforms is the Vatican Bank, which has fallen from the papacy’s good graces after a series of embarrassing scandals involving investments in industries deemed unethical by the church.

The Investment Committee, a reorganized committee responsible for ensuring ethical considerations in investments, is outlined and defined in the constitution. The new committee will have greater cooperation and audit from lay and non-clerical members of the church.

“The Investments Committee is in charge of guaranteeing the ethical nature of the Holy See’s capital investments in accordance with the social doctrine of the Church and, at the same time, of controlling their profitability, ownership and degree of risk”, proclaims the Constitution. “According to its statutes, the Committee is made up of members and distinguished professionals appointed for a period of five years by the Roman Pontiff. It is headed by a president, assisted by a secretary.”

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada on July 26, 2022.
(VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution officially supersedes the previous constitution drawn up under Pope John Paul II and has already been declared “firm, valid and effective”.

“I decree that the present Apostolic Constitution is firm, valid and effective, now and from now on […]”, wrote the pope, “and may it be fully observed in all its particulars by those to whom it applies, now and in the future, though to the contrary, even if it deserves the most special mention.”