"Something big is coming": What will Francis tell his cardinals?

Cardinals from all over the world are coming to Rome next week for the Consistory. The rumour mill is bubbling: "Something big is coming", say Vaticanists. Some suspect Francis may clarify the rules for a Pope's resignation or health failure.

"Not at the moment, not in the near future". Pope Francis put the kibosh on resignation rumours in several interviews in the first weeks of July. 

Meeting on 27 August - in the middle of the summer break

His trip to L'Aquila to visit the tomb of Celestine V, the first Pope to allow a resignation and then to resign: coincidence. Even if he does not rule out resignation in principle and respects the step taken by his predecessor Benedict XVI - Francis wants to continue. So there are travel plans for late summer, including a possible meeting with Moscow Patriarch Kirill I in Kazakhstan (Cathcon- now called off), possibly a visit to Ukraine.

But there is the upcoming Cardinals' meeting to appoint new wearers of the purple on 27 August. The unusual date in the Italian summer break and the subsequent meeting on the new Curia reform with the Cardinals continues to puzzle. Are these days really about shedding light on the details of the Apostolic Constitution, "Praedicate Evangelium" or is there more to it? "Something big is coming, but it's not a resignation," says a Vatican insider. But what is it?

Scholars discuss rules for a Papal resignation

One theory would be that Francis wants to make a resignation more concrete in the near or distant future. To date, there are hardly any guidelines in Canon Law. Pope Celestine's decree is vague. This vacuum displeases Francis. Canon lawyers see a great need for clarification here. Experts from various nations, initiated in Italy, therefore joined forces last year and formulated proposals.

Since then, the scholars have posted their ideas on an internet platform for discussion on Canon Law. For example, they suggest that a resignation from office should be irrevocable and ideally announced in writing at a cardinals' meeting.

Benedict XVI lets himself be called "Papa emeritus"

At the same time, the resigning Pope should lose all offices, including honorary offices. And after that he would no longer be Pope, nor Cardinal, but Bishop Emeritus of Rome. This is exactly what Francis himself is considering for a possible resignation - in contrast to his predecessor Benedict XVI, who claims the title "Papa emeritus" for himself.

Around Francis' serious intestinal operation last year, the question arose of what would happen if the Pope were - temporarily or permanently - incapacitated, for example if he fell into a coma. The canon lawyers have also made proposals on this. For example, in the event of temporary incapacity, the College of Cardinals would be in charge. The latter, in turn, should appoint five cardinals by absolute majority to take over the ordinary affairs of the Pope.

The last major change to the regulation of the Conclave was in 1996.

In the meantime, the Pope's state of health would have to be continuously assessed by a panel of international doctors. And if the incapacity was permanent, the Cardinals would also have to decide on this at due intervals of six months. Only then would the Papal chair be considered vacant.

Francis could address all these serious questions at the Cardinals' meeting. It would also be conceivable that "the big one" would go beyond that. That Francis will prepare their Eminences to a reform of the next Papal election. The last extensive change to the regulation of the Conclave was enacted by Pope John Paul II in 1996.

The Curia as service provider for the local churches

He ensured that the Papal electors had a proper bed instead of a bunk and abolished the coronation. He did not change anything about the composition of the conclave. He also did not include the Synod of Bishops, which had been debated. Benedict XVI made minor changes, mainly concerning the achievement of the necessary two-thirds majority.

Francis has already made the existing College of Cardinals more international and younger. In addition, he changed the nature of the central administration of the universal Church with his reform of the Curia published in March. It is to see itself more as a servant of the local churches, less as a control centre of power.

Synodal process

The aim of the current World Synod is to permanently change the way the Curia, the universal Church and the local Church work together. The listening and, above all, the perception and discernment of all the faithful is to be sharpened.

With a conclave reform, Francis could dare to take a step that his predecessors did not. He could open up the assembly of Papal electors, include the Synod of Bishops and perhaps create greater participation of the local churches in the pre-election phase - possibly right down to the faithful. Perhaps Francis will also combine resignation, representation and election rules. All this is still speculation - but not for long.

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