Berkley Center

On February 12, the Berkley Center welcomed Monsignor Anthony Ekpo for a discussion on his new book, The Roman Curia: History, Theology, and Organization (Georgetown University Press, 2024). Moderated by Berkley Center Director Thomas Banchoff, the event addressed challenges and opportunities raised by Pope Francis’ far-reaching 2022 reform of the Vatican administration. Reflecting on the conversation, Banchoff remarked: 

Monsignor Ekpo’s personal experience working in the Roman Curia has uniquely positioned him to comment on the significance and impact of these reforms.

Monsignor Ekpo, who serves as undersecretary within the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Monsignor Ekpo provided valuable insight into both the theological grounding and the practical implementation of changes designed to make the Curia more responsive, efficient, and aligned with the imperative of evangelization.

Reshaping the Curia: A Mission-Driven Approach

The Roman Curia serves as the central administrative body of the Catholic Church, overseeing its governance and day-to-day operations. Over the centuries, the Roman Curia has undergone multiple reforms to adapt to the evolving needs of the Church, with Pope Francis’ 2022 overhaul marking one of the most ambitious transformations to date. 

The Roman Curia is often perceived as a bureaucratic entity, a vast machine working behind the scenes of the Vatican. But, as Monsignor Ekpo made clear, it is much more than that. “The Roman Curia is not a mere administrative structure,” he emphasized. “Instead, it is an ecclesial institution whose existence is embedded in the specific mission of the Church and the pope.” Pope Francis’ 2022 reform sought to strip away the perception of the Curia as a distant, insular institution and shift its focus toward evangelization and service. 

[Pope Francis] intends the Roman Curia to redouble its effort in making his spiritual and personal closeness felt in local churches and in parishes throughout the world. 

The Role of Dialogue 

As Ekpo outlines in his book, Pope Francis took a different approach than his predecessors with regards to Curial reform—one rooted in dialogue and consultation. “We discerned that our principal task was to listen, to dialogue, and to reflect in a synodal manner,” he explained. 

By prioritizing dialogue at every level, the reform embodies Pope Francis’ broader commitment to a “culture of encounter”—an approach that seeks to foster understanding, cooperation, and solidarity across differences. This commitment to diversity is not merely symbolic; it has been woven into the reforms. A clear example of this is Pope Francis’ directive to ensure that the members of the Roman Curia represent the global diversity of the Church, what Ekpo referred to as “the building up of an orderly and effective functioning which transcends cultural, linguistic, and national differences.” 

This commitment to diversity is also reflected in more decentralized decision-making processes. A key structural change was the elevation of all curial institutions to juridical equality. Previously, some offices held more influence than others. The restructuring has fostered a more cooperative approach to governance, ensuring that each area of Church administration is given due authority. 

Living the Reform

Reforming structures is one thing—changing institutional culture is another. Ekpo highlighted that one of the defining elements of Pope Francis’ curial reform is his insistence that these changes be actively lived, not just legislated. According to Ekpo, the pope himself has modeled a leadership style that prioritizes humility, service, and proximity to the faithful. 

Francis’s curial reform represents a thorough rethinking of the Church’s governance in a rapidly changing world. As Monsignor Ekpo noted, its long-term impact will ultimately depend on how they are embraced and enacted by Church leaders.