Pope Francis keeps personal staff small, makes decisions himself

Pope Francis is carefully avoiding reliance on old veterans of the Roman Curia, as he weighs his options for reforms at the Vatican, writes Sandro Magister of L’Espresso.

The Pope has collected a small group of personal aides—most importantly his secretary, Father Fabian Pedacchio Leaniz. 

But he makes all important decisions himself. 

The Secretariat of State, traditionally the major power at the Vatican, has lost some influence to the small circle of the Pope's trusted staff.