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New Pope

Can Pope Francis Really Reform the Vatican?

By Alessandro Speciale, David Gibson, Religion News Service
Pope Francis waves to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Photo courtesy RNS.
Apr 8, 2013
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Pope Francis has won widespread acclaim thus far in his nascent papacy with popular gestures like washing the feet of juveniles during Holy Week and refusing many papal perks. But now comes the hard part of his new job: reforming the Vatican.

The Roman Curia, as the central administration of the Catholic Church is known, has been riven by scandals and allegations of infighting and careerism, which helped undermine Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s reign and reportedly pushed him to resign.

The dysfunction was so bad that reforming the Curia became a rallying cry for many cardinals at the conclave that elected Francis. But will he deliver on the promise of reform?

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Pope Francis waves to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Photo courtesy RNS.
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