Pope Francis has had "free, frank and friendly" discussions with the C9 group of cardinals charged with examining reforms, Vatican Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said Friday.
The focus of the meetings this week, the fifth session since the start of the Argentinian's pontificate, has been threefold: a presentation on the situation in the Governorate and the Secretariat of State, an in-depth look at the re-shuffle of the Vatican departments and the Institute of Religious Works (IOR) or Vatican Bank, Fr. Lombardi said. The cardinals expressed their esteem Thursday for IOR President Ernst Von Freyberg, amid speculation that he plans to resign from the bank, which is trying to make the white list of credit institutions with top transparency credentials "An English-language cardinal spoke of the '3Fs' to describe the atmosphere in which the cardinals work with the pope," Lombardi said. "Free, frank and friendly. This seems to me a beautiful definition corresponding to the faces I see when I meet them coming out of the discussions".
"The pope settles naturally into this climate of dialogue, favouring discussion ... perhaps not so many years ago a climate of communication at this level was inconceivable".
Although the cardinals' brief includes drawing up a new Apostolic Constitution it is too early for drafts of the new document, Lombardi cautioned.
The next meetings of the C9 group advising Francis will be held in September, December and February, the spokesman said.
Further clarification on the situation at the Vatican Bank is expected after the Holy See Council of the Economy meets in the tiny city State Saturday, Vatican sources said.
Originally dubbed C8, as of Wednesday the group became C9 because of the participation of Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
The Commission for the Protection of Minors led by Cardinal Sean O'Malley, a member of C9, is scheduled to meet Sunday and on Monday, a group of paedophilia victims will attend the Pope's morning Mass in St. Martha's House, Vatican sources said. http://popefrancisnewsapp.com/
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