Council of Cardinal Advisers

The Council of Cardinal Advisers, formally the Council of Cardinals, is a group of nine Catholic cardinals appointed by Pope Francis to serve as his advisers. Announced 13 April 2013 - one month after his election - it was formally established 28 September the same year.

The Council consists of 9 Cardinals plus Marcello Semeraro, who is a Bishop rather than a Cardinal, and who serves as Secretary for the group.

The group is coordinated by Cardinal Maradiaga. The group's secretary is Marcello Semeraro, Bishop of Albano. Pope Francis named Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, the ninth member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers in July 2014.

The group of nine cardinals have a broad remit "to advise him in the government of the universal church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, Pastor Bonus." Said to have been inspired by "a suggestion that emerged during the General Congregations preceding the Conclave", as relayed in the move's formal notice.

The council had its first meeting on 1–3 October. In a statement released after the close of the meeting, the intention of the cardinals is to emphasise the nature of the service on the part of the Curia and the universal and local church "in terms of subsidiarity, rather than the exercise of centralised power. The intended direction would be to put this into practice in the service of the Church in all her dimensions". Another important theme was the nature and functions of the Secretariat of State, which "should be the secretariat of the Pope; the word State should not give rise to doubt. This body serves the Pope in the governance of the universal Church". The Council will address the matter of relations between the heads of the dicasteries and the Pope, and co-ordination between the various bodies. "In this context, mention was made of the role of a 'Moderator Curiae' (Moderator of the Curia), and the functions of such a figure. The issue was touched upon but no decision has been made as to whether it will form part of the new constitution; however, it is in fact one of the hypotheses suggested by the Council".

The council had its second meeting from 3–5 December, discussing the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, entering fully into their in-depth task, not limited to retouches or minor improvements. The revision of Pastor Bonus is substantial, to the extent that it may be considered as a new constitution for the Curia.

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