The Council of Cardinals (also called C9 because it contained 9
cardinal members for some time), also known as the Council of Cardinal Advisers, is a group of cardinals of the
Catholic Church appointed by
Pope Francis to serve as his advisers. The Council was formally established on 28 September 2013.
Abbreviations
The Council of Cardinals was named under abbreviations referring to the number of cardinals advisers which, over time, it comprised:[1] C8 (8 cardinals),[2] C9 (9 cardinals), C6 (6 cardinals), C7 (7 cardinals).[1]
History
The appointment of a group of 8 advisors and one secretary to support the pope and the reform of the
Roman Curia was announced on 13 April 2013, one month after his election.[3][4][5] The same group was formally established as the Council of Cardinals on 28 September of the same year by a
chirograph of
Pope Francis.[6][7]
Secretary of StatePietro Parolin was added as member of the Council in July 2014.[8] The Holy See used the expression "Council of the nine" (Consiglio dei nove in Italian) in September 2014.[9]
Francis appointed another cardinal as member in 2020, and also replaced secretary Marcello Semeraro by Marco Mellino.[14][15]
In March 2023, three cardinal advisors were removed, and five new cardinal advisors were appointed; the three other cardinals and the secretary were kept (re-appointed). This made the current total of 9 cardinal advisers and one secretary.[16][17][18] On 24 April 2023, the new Council of Cardinals held their first meeting, which Pope Francis presided over.[19]
In February 2024, the role of women was discussed.[20]
Purpose
On 13 April 2013, the
Holy See stated the cardinals had been appointed "to advise [the Pope] in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the
Apostolic Constitution on the
Roman Curia, '
Pastor Bonus'".[3] In a
chirograph dated 28 September 2013, Pope Francis stated the Council had the goal "of assisting me in the governance of the universal Church and of studying a project for the revision of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia", and that "said Council will be a further expression of
episcopal communion and assistance to the munus petrinum which the Episcopate across the world is able to offer".[7]
The Council of Cardinals was thus created primarily to assist
Pope Francis in the reform of the Roman Curia. Said reform was
promulgated in 2022 through the apostolic constitution Praedicate evangelium. The Council continues to exist and to perform various activities, despite having achieved its main goal.[1]
At the time of its formation, the council had eight members. Cardinal Parolin was not among the council's original membership, but attended the meetings regularly and, in July 2014, was confirmed by the
Holy See Press Office as a ninth member of the council.[25]