popefrancis

 

In the shadow of attention given to the pope’s travel to Brazil for World Youth Day and the anticipated arrival of a royal baby, few seem to have noticed the news reports about Friday’s announcement of a new Vatican commission that has been established by Pope Francis. This commission has been established to oversee the the financial and organizational reforms within the Vatican. It will have unprecedented authority to examine any document, in print or electronic form, and answer directly to the pope.

Reports from Reuters, Catholic News Service, and Vatican Radio all confirm that this commission – which consists entirely of laity who are experts in law, finance, economics, and organizational matters, and which has a cleric assigned only as secretary to the group – is scheduled to begin work as soon as the Holy Father returns from Brazil.

Vatican Radio published the names and countries of the Pontifical commission’s members:

Dr. Joseph FX Zahra (Malta), President
Msgr. Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda (Secretary of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs), Secretary
Mr Jean-Baptiste de Franssu (France)
Dr. Enrique Llano (Spain)
Dr. Jochen Messemer (Germany)
Ms. Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui (Italy)
Mr. Jean Videlain-Sevestre (France)
Mr. George Yeo (Singapore)

Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M. is a Franciscan friar of Holy Name Province (New York) and is currently a Ph.D. student in systematic theology at Boston College. Fr. Dan studied at St. Bonaventure University where he earned a B.A. (Honors) degree in theology and journalism. He entered the Order of Friars Minor in 2005, made his first profession of vows in 2007 and was ordained a priest in 2012. During his studies as a friar, he earned an M.A. degree in systematic theology in 2010 and a Master of Divinity  (M.Div.) degree in 2012, both from the Washington Theological Union. Fr. Dan has previously taught in the department of religious studies at Siena College (2010-2011) and has been a visiting professor in the department of theology at St. Bonaventure University during the summer session (2012). He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Thomas Merton Society.The author of many scholarly and popular articles, Fr. Dan received a 2011 Catholic Press Association first-place award for his writing on spirituality. He is the author of several books, including: Postmodernity and Univocity: A Critical Account of Radical Orthodoxy and John Duns Scotus (2014), The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton: A New Look at the Spiritual Influence on his Life, Thought, and Writing (2014), Postmodernity and Univocity: A Critical Account of Radical Orthodoxy and John Duns Scotus (2014), The Last Words of Jesus: A Meditation on Love and Suffering (2013), Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis (2012) and Francis of Assisi and the Future of Faith: Exploring Franciscan Spirituality and Theology in the Modern World (2012). In addition to his column in America, Fr. Dan is a regular contributor to Give Us This Day (Liturgical Press) and The Huffington Post. To learn more about his writing and speaking engagements, visit his website: DanHoran.com. He blogs at DatingGod.org and you can also find him on Facebook and Twitter (@DanHoranOFM)