Pope Appoints Panel of Nine for Advice on Reform

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has named nine cardinals to advise him on running the church and reforming the Vatican bureaucracy.

 

The Vatican announced Saturday the members of the advisory panel and said they would hold their first meeting Oct. 1-3. They include current Vatican officials but more importantly cardinals from Europe, the Americas, Australia and Asia.

In the run-up to the conclave, a reform of the Vatican bureaucracy was a constant drumbeat, as well as calls for making the Vatican more responsive to the needs of bishops around the world.