Council of Cardinals

[1] The appointment of a group of eight advisers and one secretary to support the pope and the reform of the Roman Curia was announced on 13 April 2013, one month after his election.

[3][4][5] The same group was formally established as the Council of Cardinals on 28 September of the same year by a chirograph of Pope Francis.

[12][13] Francis appointed another cardinal as a member in 2020, and also replaced secretary Marcello Semeraro with Marco Mellino.

[22] On 13 April 2013, the Holy See stated the cardinals had been appointed "to advise [the Pope] in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, 'Pastor Bonus'".

[3] In a chirograph dated 28 September 2013, Pope Francis stated the Council had the goal "of assisting me in the governance of the universal Church and of studying a project for the revision of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia", and that "said Council will be a further expression of episcopal communion and assistance to the munus petrinum which the Episcopate across the world is able to offer".