On December 22, 2016, Pope Francis met with the College of Cardinals as well as the Prefects of Vatican Congregations and various other officials to offer his annual Christmas greetings.
The Holy Father spoke of their need to invest in the ongoing reform of the Roman Curia which he referred to as just not the rejuvenation of archaic structures but a process of profound personal conversion.
In his speech, Pope Francis put forth guiding principles geared toward an appropriate and long-lasting administration reset.
In the effort to reform the central administration and practices of the Curia, the Holy Father freely admitted his personal awareness of resistance to such changes. He indicated that certain pockets of resistance had come from a sense of care or fear for the good of the Church. He, likewise, stated with great sadness that some who have resisted have done so for personal and willfully misguided reasons.
"This last type of resistance hides behind justifying words and, in many cases, accusatory; finding refuge in traditions, in appearances, in formality, in what is known, or in wanting to bring everything on a personal level without distinguishing between the act, the actor and the action," the Pope said.
And yet, the Pope assured his audience that resistance to change is both necessary and understandable. Those who resist reform "deserve to be heard, received and encouraged because it is a sign that that the body is alive," Francis said. "The absence of reaction is a sign of death!"
What is equally necessary, Francis insisted, is that reform and renewal be accompanied by a commitment to dialogue and to prayer, “many prayers".
He then offered twelve guiding principles to which he intended to adhere in reforming the Roman Curia. These include the following:
(1) Personal conversion through spiritual renweal;
(2) Creation of an environment of pastoral service where “no one feels neglected and mistreated" and everyone can experience the care of the Good Shepherd;
(3) A Christ-centered evangelical spirit of fidelity to the mission of the Church;
(4) Humility in the recognition that no Curial Office or Officer is more imporant than another and the need to distinguish the individual competencies of each Office within the overall structure of the Curia;
(5) The need to streamline an Office’s specific mission by merging departments and cutbacks in staffing positions;
(6) A willingness to engage in the modern world and adapt to the needs of the present day Universal Church;
(7) A commitment toward simplicity in responding to immediate needs which need to be addressed;
(8) An eagerness to reorganize priorities and, if necessary, to shift responsibilities to another Office more suited to address a particular need;
(9) The Curia should reflect the universality and multi-cultural nature of the Church in its personnel especially recognizing the role of Permanent Deacons and women in the life and mission of the Church;
(10) Every office must adopt a policy of personal formation to avoid the "rust" and routine of functionalism, as well as putting a definitive end to the practice of "promoveatur ut amoveatur" ("removal by promotion"). "This is a cancer!" the pope exclaimed.
(11) Patience in taking the time to verify, correct and discern methods and policies which "allow the necessary flexibility to achieve a true reform";
(12) An eagerness to insure that "the heart and center of the reform is Christ."
From the very beginning of his ministry, Pope Francis has emphasized his desire to celebrate the humility of Christ Himself and create an atmosphere in the Curia and the Church at-large which rejects ambition, power, Phariseeism, and domination.
As he shepherds the People of God, it is clear that the Holy Father has integrated these principles into his administrative style and the substance of his many reforms.
Pope Francis is to be commended for his openness to the modern world and his keen desire to bring to it the reassuring love and mercy of Almighty God.
May Curial officials and all of us be inspired by his example and strive to implement the spirit of these guidelines into our effort to rejuvenate and enliven the gift of Faith entrusted to us by Christ Jesus.
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