Pope Issues New Constitution With Vision For Church

Hailed in early news reports for its opening of top Vatican leadership roles to any baptized lay person, including women, the pope's new document outlining the design and function of the Roman Curia enshrines much of Pope Francis's broader vision for the church into the statutes of its governing body. In a new apostolic constitution published March 19 and titled Praedicate evangelium, or "Preach the Gospel," the pope also created new mega-departments for evangelization and charity, taking personal charge of the former.