Pope Francis convenes meeting of cardinals to discuss new constitution

An unprecedented, closed-door meeting of cardinals as candidates to replace the Pope comes amid fears over Francis’s declining health.

About 200 cardinals are participating in unprecedented closed-door meetings convened by Pope Francis as his declining health sparks concerns of a looming retirement announcement.

The meeting comes as the Pope acknowledged in July his ailing health may force him to retire early, is considered an opportunity for Cardinals to meet candidates for his future replacement.

They will also review the Vatican’s constitution, known as the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, or the document reflecting the Pope’s reform of the Roman Curia.

The event is expected to mark the Pope’s largest and most attended meeting with the College of Cardinals.

For the duration of his decade-long pontificate, the Pope has not held such a meeting of this duration or attendance.

The last time a gathering of this prominence was held was eight years ago when the Pope called the synod on the family, inviting 180 Bishops and Cardinals.

Pope Francis (second left) and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (left) meeting with new Cardinals following a consistory to create 20 new cardinals in The Vatican. Picture: Vatican Media/AFP

The meeting also serves to welcome the 20 new Cardinals and is estimated to bring together established Cardinals, Eastern Patriarchs and Superiors of the Secretariat of State from 20 countries.

Meetings are to be held at the new Synod New Hall during three morning and afternoon working sessions, with a break for lunch, according to Vatican sources.

Participants say they have been given an agenda listing themes and questions on aspects related to the constitution, which will be addressed in group discussion and in the plenary sessions in the Hall.

The event culminates on Tuesday, 30 August, at 5:30pm local time with a papal Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The gathering will formalise many of the reforms implemented by the Pope in recent years, studied and formulated by the Council of Cardinals that the Pope instituted at the beginning of his pontificate.

Pope Francis leads the mass before the Rite of Opening at the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in L'Aquila, Italy. Picture: Getty Images

Elsewhere, the Constitution introduces changes pertaining to the service of local Churches and evangelisation efforts worldwide.

“With the Constitution, there is now a space for listening and dialogue between the various churches and the Curia,” newly appointed Cardinal Leonardo Steiner, Archbishop of Manaus (in Brazil’s Amazon), told Vatican News.

“There is a better sense of who is at the service of the Holy Father, at the service of the bishops, and this is a hope to be a more fraternal Church where we listen, where we experience and appreciate cultural diversity,” Cardinal Steiner said.

The two day meetings also aim to bring together global members of the College of Cardinals and to bridge cultural gaps and strengthen Pope Francis’ diverse and universal vision.