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World

Pope seeks cardinals' backing for overhaul of Vatican he has criticized as dysfunctional

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Pope Francis greets cardinals and bishops as they arrive for a special consistory, in the Synod hall at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. Pope Francis met with cardinals and bishops who will take part in the upcoming Feb. 14, 2015 consistory during which he will elevate 20 new cardinals. Pope Francis is urging his cardinals to cooperate with his reform of the outdated and dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy, saying the overhaul will help him govern the 1.2-billion-strong Catholic Church better and spread the faith more effectively. Francis summoned cardinals from around the world to hear proposals for revamping the church's central government. The proposals include merging offices and reducing waste. Opening the meetings Thursday, Francis said the aim was to encourage greater harmony and collaboration in "absolute transparency," to help the church spread the faith and reach out to others. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

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    Cardinals and bishops listen to Pope Francis' speech as they attend a special consistory, in the Synod hall at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. Pope Francis met with cardinals and bishops who will take part in the upcoming Feb. 14, 2015 consistory during which he will elevate 20 new cardinals. Pope Francis is urging his cardinals to cooperate with his reform of the outdated and dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy, saying the overhaul will help him govern the 1.2-billion-strong Catholic Church better and spread the faith more effectively. Francis summoned cardinals from around the world to hear proposals for revamping the church's central government. The proposals include merging offices and reducing waste. Opening the meetings Thursday, Francis said the aim was to encourage greater harmony and collaboration in "absolute transparency," to help the church spread the faith and reach out to others. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

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    Pope Francis talks with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, left, and archbishop Marcello Semeraro as they arrive for a special consistory with cardinals and bishops, in the Synod hall at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. Pope Francis met with cardinals and bishops who will take part in the upcoming Feb. 14, 2015 consistory during which he will elevate 20 new cardinals. Pope Francis is urging his cardinals to cooperate with his reform of the outdated and dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy, saying the overhaul will help him govern the 1.2-billion-strong Catholic Church better and spread the faith more effectively. Francis summoned cardinals from around the world to hear proposals for revamping the church's central government. The proposals include merging offices and reducing waste. Opening the meetings Thursday, Francis said the aim was to encourage greater harmony and collaboration in "absolute transparency," to help the church spread the faith and reach out to others. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is urging his cardinals to cooperate with his reform of the outdated and dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy, saying the overhaul will help him govern the 1.2-billion-strong Catholic Church better and spread the faith more effectively.

Francis summoned cardinals from around the world to hear proposals for revamping the church's central government. The proposals include merging offices and reducing waste.

Opening the meetings Thursday, Francis said the aim was to encourage greater harmony and collaboration in "absolute transparency," to help the church spread the faith and reach out to others.

Francis, who was elected on a reform mandate, made clear what he felt was wrong with the Vatican Curia last December, when he ticked off 15 ailments that can afflict its members, including "spiritual Alzheimer's" and the "terrorism of gossip."