Changes may be few

From our Special Correspondent in Rome THF first informed specula tion on what changes are likely to be proposed in the Roman Curia have been published in the Italian weekly magazine. Vita, which closely resembles Time or Newsweek. Written by a journalist, Lamberto Furno, who is reputed to be knowledgeable about Vatican affairs, it gives what it says are the conclusions reached by the commission. headed by Cardinal Roberti, a noted canonist, to bring about the reforms.
Pope Paul called for the reform of the Curia in a speech to its members on September 21. 1963. Since then he has referred several times to the same proposal but so far there has been no official information on the progress of Cardinal Roberti's commission.
Furno begins his article by noting that the Curia was drastically reformed by Sixtus V in 1588. A minor reform was carried out by Pius X in 1908. He then notes that the principle
of episcopal collegiality demands a "radical" modification of the Curia now, especially since the Bishops have indicated that they wish to associate themselves more closely with the Pope in running the Church by means of the proposed episcopal senate.
Discussing t h e "senate", Furno reports that the audience hall, now being constructed behind the Holy Office in the Vatican City, will have a large first-floor meeting room for the senate.
Places are planned for 300, Furno reported, indicating that the senate will he quite large and, he added, "largely representative". He does not indicate if its members will he selected by national or regionat hierarchies or selected by the Pope or the Holy See.
According to Furno, only three of the present twelve Congregations in the Curia will be substantially affected by the reform-the Holy Office, the Consistorial Congregation and the Congregation of the Council. He anticipates the following changes:
Holy Office-Name to be changed to the Congregation of the Faith. Function to be limited "only to questions pertaining to the faith". Other powers, such as "in matrimonial and sacramental matters and the censorship of books" to be transferred to other congregations or left to local bishops.
Consistorial-This congregation would also have a new name Congregation of the Bishops-and would concern itself basically with the bishops and their dioceses.
Council-To be renamed the Congregation of Priests or the Congregation of Discipline. It would regulate the activities of secular priests but not those of religious orders, who will still
come under the Congregation of Religious.
New congregation
Furno reports that a new Congregation will be formed. It will he called the Congregation of the Laity and will regulate all lay Catholic organisations and secular institutes. (Though Furno suggests that Cardinal Cardijn. founder of the 'Young Christian Workers, would head this congregation, it is known that he has asked the Pope to allow him to return to Belgium. It is now being suggested in Rome that the Congregation may be given to a layman.)
Furno also reports that internationalisation of the. Curia will proceed slowly but inevitably. He says that non-Italians may soon be heading some of the Curial Congregations.
Among the organisations which will be affected by this transfer of powers. Furno thinks, are the tribunals-the Penitentiary, the Roman Rota and the Apostolic Signatura.
Finally, Furno says that a retirement age of 70 will be fixed
for all members of the Curia and that officials will he transferred much more easily from one position to another when it is "necessary or opportune".
The 'Senate'
Vatican commentators say that Furno's reports indicate some danger of the reform of the Curia extending no further than the re-titling of some Congregations and the shifting around of power and authority. The Italians are known for their gift of appearing to make great changes by loudly creating new agencies and quietly giving them the same personnel and powers of the old.
No reform of the Curia is likely to he successful without the establishment of an effective episcopal senate. Reports that the creation of new Cardinals means that the Sacred College will form the senate are now regarded as partly accurate.
According to the best sources, the Cardinals will indeed form the nucleus of the senate but only the nucleus. Other L''shops will be named to join them.