Friday, June 17, 2011

Pope holds rare 'cabinet meeting' with top Vatican officials

Pope Benedict XVI held a special meeting on June 13, with the leaders of the Roman Curia. 

The Vatican did not disclose the purpose of the Monday-morning meeting. 

Pope Benedict has only rarely called together all the heads of Vatican offices, when he wants to discuss a major policy issue, which could affect several offices of the Roman Curia.

The last such meeting of dicastery heads took place last November, to discuss the creation of a new office of the Roman Curia: the Pontifical Council for New Evangelization. 

The formal announcement of that office came soon after the meeting.