Vatican media, culture, economy and protection of children as the centre of the Council of Cardinals' meeting
As usual, Pope Francis was present. The Council closely examined the Interim Report presented by the Commission on Vatican media reform. This morning's meeting was dedicated again to preparing tomorrow's consistory.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The reorganisation of Vatican media, the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Secretariat for the Economy was at the centre of the eighth session of the Council of Cardinals, which took place over the past three days (9-11 February), with meetings in the morning and the afternoon.

In a briefing, Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, said that all the members of the Council attended every meeting, as did the Pope, except today, because, as usual, he attended the Wednesday general audience.

"The first meeting on Monday morning was dedicated to the preparation of the Report on the work of the Council and on the reform of the Curia, which will be presented on Thursday, 12 February, at the Consistory of the College of Cardinals," said the briefing. The Council's Secretary Mgr Semeraro illustrated the work he had prepared.

On Monday afternoon, the Council held talks with Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, regarding the "broader reform of the Curia".

"The meeting on Tuesday morning centred mostly on the presentation by Mgr Paul Tighe, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and of the Commission on Vatican media, of the Commission's Interim Report, which contains the main findings and proposals for the reorganisation of Vatican media. The Council expressed its appreciation for the Commission's work and has confirmed its main orientations."

In the afternoon, the discussion focused on issues regarding the Secretariat and the Council of the economy before the Statutes of these new bodies are finalised.

"The first part of the meeting on Wednesday morning was devoted again to the preparation of the consistory of the following day, in particular the contribution by the coordinator of the Council, Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga. In the second part, there was an update on the organisation and the activities of the Secretariat for the economy.

"At the last meeting, on Wednesday afternoon, what was discussed during the morning will be examined again with the Holy Father. Card O'Malley will probably talk about the recent plenary meeting of the new Commission for the protection of minors."

The next session of the Council of Cardinals is set for 13-15 April.