Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The goal of the Council of Cardinals will be "a new constitution" and not "simple retouches or minor improvements to the Pastor Bonus," the document with which Pope John Paul II gave the Roman Curia its current setting in 1988, said Fr Federico Lombardi, director of the Press Office of the Holy See, in a press briefing on the second round of meetings the Council has undertaken today till Thursday.
The eight cardinals plus the secretary, Mgr Semeraro, who make up the Council established by Pope Francis "to help him govern the universal Church and study a draft revision of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia" live with the pope at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
In the two months since the Council first met (1-3 October), the cardinals "worked on already received documents, gathering additional input and comments, particularly those from the meetings of Bishops' Conferences and other Episcopal bodies from the different continents they come from. This was the case in relation to Asia, Europe, and Latin America".
"This morning's work began immediately with the examination of the Roman Curia in view of its reform as requested by the Congregation of Cardinals that preceded the conclave."
"The working method with which this morning's session began includes a review of the various dicasteries of the Curia. The first part of the consultations was devoted to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments".
In addition, "The Council has invited the Secretary of State to a meeting in the coming days in order to greet him, wish him well in his work and establish a first contact. No meeting has been currently set with representatives of various economic sectors. Such a conference is likely to take place during the already scheduled meetings set for 17-18 February, before the consistory."