(Vatican 2015-02-10) Discussions about the future of the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Vatican media have been at the top of the agenda during a meeting of the group of nine cardinals that Pope Francis appointed as his top advisors. The Pope is taking part in the three day meeting, which began on Monday,
at the Casa Santa Marta.

Fr Federico Lombardi, head of the Vatican press office, briefed journalists on Tuesday noting that the first morning meeting was dedicated to the preparation of a presentation on the Curial reforms for a meeting of the full college of cardinals which will take place on Thursday and Friday this week. That closed door encounter will be followed by a consistory for the creation of 20 new cardinals on Saturday and Sunday.

On Monday afternoon the C9 group held talks with the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, regarding the future of that office within the broader reform programme. On Tuesday morning the group heard an interim report from Mgr Paul Tighe, secretary of the Commission charged with the reorganisation of all the Vatican media offices. That 12 member Commission, headed by Britain’s Lord Patten, is expected to complete its work later this spring.