In Vatican shake-up, Pope redefines role of second-in-command

[Capt. Obvious]

Source: Reuters

When he was elected a year ago, Pope Francis promised to shake up the bureaucracy of the world's smallest country. He has started at the top - curbing the once-overarching role of the secretary of state.

The cardinal who oversees the Vatican's relations with other countries has served as the top ranking official in the Holy See's bureaucracy since the 17th century. And in recent decades the office accumulated increasing authority over finances and job hires, taking on roles analogous to prime minister and chief of staff in the papal court, as well as that of top diplomat.

During the reign of retired Pope Benedict, critics blamed then Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone for failing to prevent the missteps and scandals that marred the German pontiff's eight years as Roman Catholic leader.

Now, however, Francis is reducing the power of the job, reshaping the department as one primarily involved in diplomacy like the U.S. State Department or foreign ministries elsewhere, stripping it of authority over finances and giving it a smaller role in internal matters.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/13/us-pope-anniversary-curia-insight-idUSBREA2C0UC20140313

[Bluenorthwest]

1. Has he found time in his busy day to comment on the events in Uganda

where he is 'spiritual leader' to 42% of a country that is attacking LGBT people, where his followers are hounding, beating, and jailing good people in the name of religion? Where his Bishops are also utterly silent about the pogrom laws?
Of course not. Too busy with issues of Vatican politics and finance. Because as always, it's money first.

[Lost_Count]

2. That's a pretty thin line from A to B...

If you wanted to talk about the Pope's role in Uganda, you should start your own thread.

Getting the Vatican's diplomatic and financial affairs in order would be a big step for the church.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Who died and made you Pope of DU? Sorry if the facts upset your sense of

decorum but the facts are that Francis is currently giving tacit support via his silence to a great evil. The victims of religious hate in Uganda and elsewhere are far more important that your desire to protect a homophobic cleric.

[Plucketeer]

8. "protect a homophobic cleric."

Really??? You can say that with a straight face? I've been around for seven decades and this is the first pontiff I can recall who's even acknowledged (and given a more than tacit pass) homosexual relationships. I'm an atheist, but I respect those who look to their religions for hope and guidance. This pope is a breath of fresh air compared to his predecessors - way more substantive than kissing babies and hiding pedophile priests.

[pnwmom]

15. +1. n/t

[Lost_Count]

9. There was a conclave...

Hanging chads from the 2000 election were burnt to release an amazing white smoke, all seen via webstream, and thus it was proclaimed!

The interesting part is that people like you actually make it harder for him to advocate for the "right" causes. Crapping on every positive accomplishment or change coming out of the Vatican reduces his influence and actually delays implementation of positive policies.

Lastly, no one is denying the situation in Uganda isn't a serious one. That's why you are encouraged to start a thread about it instead of hijacking every thread that has the word Pope, Catholic, church or Italy in it...

Ominus Dominus ... Go forth and speak intelligently... Amen..

[secondwind]

11. hear, hear...... we need less negativity on this page!

[Exultant Democracy]

12. Life long athiest in agreement with you. This guy has earned some elbow room to work with.

Celebrating the positives seems like a great way for us to get more reform.

[Lost_Count]

13. Yup...

Pretty sure that turning around one of, if not the, most monolithic organizations in the history of mankind is no small task. Let alone turning it around on a dime.

Everyone wants their candy now now NOW!

Let the man work FFS...

[Sherman A1]

4. +1

[IdaBriggs]

5. The poster you are responding to is not interested in discussion about this thread.

The poster is "anti-Pope" in general based on the pope's views on a variety of subjects including (non-liberal) views on the civil rights of women and/or homosexuals.

Repeating "I dislike everything about this Pope" would not qualify for a thread in "Latest Breaking News", but "Bad Pope - see Exhibits A-Z" does give a great "hijack the thread" opportunity.

It kicks the thread; please don't take it personal.

[merrily]

7. Speaking out against persecution would be very welcome.

[pnwmom]

16. The Pope's representative to Uganda has spoken out strongly against the bill.

And so did the Bishops in 2009. You lie when you say they have been "utterly silent."


- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/pope-francis%E2%80%99-representative-uganda-concerned-new-anti-gay-law291213#sthash.4xDYijtT.dpuf

Pope Francis’ representative to Uganda has expressed his shock at lawmakers passing a bill that would see people imprisoned for life for having gay sex, reiterating the church’s opposition to the bill.

Papal Nuncio to Uganda Archbishop Michael Blume was written to by Divine Word Missionaries Brother Brian McLauchlin on 21 December, asking him to speak to Catholic bishops in the country about the law’s potential to abuse people’s human rights.

SNIP

Archbishop Blume directed McLauchlin to a statement released by Uganda’s Catholic bishops in 2009 when the bill was first proposed.

‘The recent tabled Anti-Homosexuality Bill does not pass a test of a Christian caring approach to this issue,’ the bishops wrote in 2009.

[IdaBriggs]

6. I like it. Control of the money is a big deal.

Especially when "I've got the money, so let's work out the diplomacy" is always in the background. Splitting it away is definitely going to help in the fight against corruption, especially when you add in the "had internal control over stuff, too."

[Beacool]

10. Today is the Pope's first anniversary in office.

Congratulations, your Holiness!!! Best Pope in many decades.

I'm glad that he limited the powers of the Secretary of State position. In the past, Vatican SOS were almost like the grand viziers of yore.

[hrmjustin]

14. The office needs to be curtailed.