C-9 Cardinals conclude meeting ahead of Consistory
(Vatican Radio) On the final day of the meeting of the Council of Cardinals – the so-called “C-9” group of Cardinals appointed by Pope Francis as his special advisors – the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, held a press conference explaining the Cardinals’ work of the past few days.
Listen to Christopher Wells’ report:
The C-9 group of Cardinals was established by Pope Francis especially to advise the Holy Father on the reform of the Roman Curia. Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga is expected to offer a report on the group’s work to the entire College of Cardinals, who are in Rome for a Consistory set to take place this Saturday, 14 February. The secretary of the C-9, Bishop Marcello Semeraro, is also expected to address the Cardinals. The reports of the two presenters were the focus of discussions during several sessions of the meeting of the C-9.
The Council of Cardinals also heard reports on the newly-established Secretariat for the Economy and the Council for the Economy, with a view to the finalization of the statutes for the two new bodies.
Father Lombardi said Cardinal Seán O’Malley is expected to address the Council of Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon, updating them on the work of the Commission for the Protection of Minors. The Commission concluded its first plenary session on Saturday 7 February.
The afternoon session, Father Lombardi said, will serve as a conclusion to the current meeting of the C-9 Council of Cardinals. The group will meet again on 13-15 April, and is also expected to meet in July of 2015.
Father Lombardi concluded the press conference with a few notes on the Consistory, which will begin on Thursday 12 February. After praying the Mid-morning prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, the Consistory will open with introductory remarks from Pope Francis. The Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, will also address the assembly.
The initial meeting of the Consistory will then focus on the reform of the Curia, on the basis of the interventions by Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga and Bishop Semeraro.