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The reform of the Roman Curia should promote "greater harmony" among the Vatican offices, not primarily to save money or promote efficiency, but to solidify the unity of the church and strengthen its ability to evangelize, Pope Francis said. The pope arrived in the Vatican's synod hall a half hour before the consistory, or meeting of the world's cardinals, was set to begin Feb. 12. Fewer than two dozen cardinals were there before him and the pope greeted them before standing at the front of the hall to welcome each of the others as they arrived. Nineteen of the 20 churchmen Pope Francis was to induct into the College of Cardinals Feb. 14 were present -- sitting in two rows behind the other cardinals; the Vatican said a total of 165 new and old cardinals were present. Including those who were about to receive their red hats, the College of Cardinals has 227 members. Most of those who were not in attendance are quite elderly or infirm and were unable to attend. Pope Francis scheduled the meeting primarily to discuss with the cardinals the proposals his nine-member international Council of Cardinals had developed for the reform of the Curia. The proposals include the creation of two new large, high-profile Vatican offices: the Congregation for Laity, Family and Life, and the Congregation for Charity, Justice and Peace, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman. The charity and justice congregation would include the existing pontifical councils for health care and for migrants, but also would have a new section dedicated to "safeguarding creation." The proposed grouping, he said, flows from an understanding of "charity as fundamental to the essence, existence and mission of the church" and of working for justice "as a consequence" of charity. The Second Vatican Council insisted on the important vocation and role of the laity in the life of the church, particularly in witnessing to Christ in the world. Just as there are congregations for bishops, for clergy and for religious, Father Lombardi said, it seemed "natural" to the Council of Cardinals that there would be a congregation for laity. Given the centrality of family life for many laypeople, it made sense to combine the two councils and to have the Pontifical Academy for Life conduct its work under the new congregation's auspices, he said. At the beginning of the meeting, Pope Francis reminded his brother cardinals that the reform was requested by the College of Cardinals during the meetings that preceded his election in 2013.

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