D’Symbole revet une undefeated force. He is the only revelator of the spirit given by the new apostolic constitution, Preaching the Gospel (“Announce the Gospel” in French), signed on Saturday 19 March by Pope Francis. The laity, men and women, may now be called upon to direct an organism of the Roman Curie. It’s the first time a text has been admitted that it is possible for “all faithful”, man or woman, being named prefect of a dictionary or an organism of the Curie. An Nomination that must be decided by the Pope, depending on “Competence, Governance and Function” of the person chosen.
→ ANALYSIS. Reform of the Roman Curie: the revolution of Pope Francis
To support this decision, Pope Francis endorses a first-ever reason for the nature of the mission accomplished. An Effect, «Any institution of the Curie accomplished its mission in vertu of the power accorded by the Roman Pontiff», can be read in the text. Oder, since this definition, the leaders of the Curie exert their mandate in the capacity of vicarage of the pope, it is entirely possible to complete this mission, whether it be cleric or secular, male or female.
Portrait Robot
But, in addition to this first reason, this change is also a revelation of the conception of the role of the members of the Curie where they are affected by this text. The constitution boasts a kind of portrait-robot of men and women who work, insisting specifically on the competencies of those interested, but also on their moral qualities.
→ À LIRE. The pope will give a lecture for the first time of “secular ministries” to women
“The persons who serve in the Curie are chosen by the bishops, priests, deacons, members of the Institute of Consecrated Life and the Apostolic and Societal Societies which are distinguished by their spiritual exploration life”, announces the new constitution. Who follows the list of waiting qualities: the members of the Curie must also be copies as to «Their sobriety of life and their love of power, their spirit of communion and service, their competence in matters which they trust and their ability to discern the signs of the times».
“It’s clearly a way of telling the children that the Curie has no more vocation to receive the priests whom we can no longer do”comment abruptly the one of those who followed the elaboration of the text very close.
The papal act is also a very profound change, since the overwhelming majority of Roman dictators are today presided over by the priests, with a large majority of cardinals. But, these last years, François had decided on several exceptions. In 2018, Italian journalist Paolo Ruffini will become the first prefect of secularism, taking the lead from the Dicaster for Communication.
The method of Pope Francis
More recent, in 2019, is Nathalie Becquart, a French religious woman who was named to the General Secretariat for the Synod. Last August, it was in turn of Alessandra Smerilli, an Italian religious secretary, nominee (“number 2”, in the Vatican) in the interim of the Dicaster for Integral Human Development. Finally, in November, Raffaella Petrini, another religious woman, became First Secretary General of the Vatican City. As far as revelatory nominations of the François method are concerned: constitute little by little the exceptions to the rule before modifying these.
→ FROEN. Femmes au Vatican, les petits pas du pape François
But with this text the pope acts another major evolution: the rotation of the members of the Curie, well beyond the superiors. If, according to Paul VI, the prefects and secretaries are nominated for five years – with renewable mandates at the request of the pope – this obligation is therefore hilarious. All priests, religious and religious working in the diocese will also be present for this limited period, except on the part of their superiors.
→ DOSSIER. Reform of the Roman Curie, all our articles
If this time has passed, they will one day have their mission accomplished in Rome, return to their dioceses or institutes. A deadline that does not apply to the laity of the Curie but wants to signify a very clear message: he went to the Vatican to serve the Church, not to pursue a career.
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The previous Curie reforms
1588 The apostolic constitution Immensa aeterni Deisigned Sixth V, is the first law of the Church to organize the Roman Curie (of which the first mention refers to 1089) in cardinal congregation.
1908 Pie X restructures the central government of the Church in bearing the consequences of the disparity of pontificate states. It reduces the congregations from 20 to 11.
1967. Paul VI publishes the Constitution Regimini Ecclesiae universae in the fold of the Vatican II Council. Internationalization personnel and the mandates of dicaster chiefs are limited to five years.
1988. The Constitution Pastor Bonuspromulgated by John Paul II, emphasizing the pastoral character of the Curie.
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