Lateran V and the Reform of the Roman Curia

Abstract

Lateran V and the Reform of the Roman Curia Nelson H. Minnich The bull convoking the Lateran Council set as one of its principal goals the reformation of the morals of both ecclesiastics and secular persons who by law and custom are subject to reform by a council. In his speech read at the opening session, Julius called for leading depraved morals back to a more honest state. This reform would be one in head and members and begin with the Roman Curia.1 Popes of the previous century had studied various proposals for a reform of the Roman Curia, even drawing up bulls to regulate it, but they never promulgated them.2 It was not until the Lateran Council that a comprehensive reform of the Curia was enacted. Scholars who have studied the conciliar reforms of the Curia by Julius II and Leo X have been dismissive of them. In the previous century, the great German historian of the Curia, Walther Hofmann, complained that Leo X's reforms dealt mostly with taxes, which for many offices he significantly raised, while claiming to moderate or limit them in comparison to their recent terrible outgrowth. Hubert Jedin repeated the claim, stating that while Pastoralis officii enforced a firm system of taxation, it 'also yielded to the demands of officials to such an extent that the result proved a step backwards rather than forwards'. More recently the Italian scholar of the Renaissance papacy Marco Pellegrini stated: 'Attempts to reform the system under Leo X paradoxically led to [End Page 135] an increase in taxes, which was primarily dictated by pressures from 'officiales' to bring a quick return on their investments'.3 Julian Reform Commission To stave off criticism before the council opened, Julius II shaved off his beard and let it be known that he wanted all prelates to behave more honestly and the Church and the Roman Court to be reformed. He set up a commission to begin the reform of the Roman Curia. It consisted of eight cardinals: two cardinal bishops (Raffaello Riario, bishop of Ostia, dean of the Sacred College, and Camerarius; and Marco Vigerio OFM, bishop of Praenestina), four cardinal priests (Tamás Bakócz of the titular church of St. Martin in the Mountains; Leonardo della Rovere of the titular church of St. Susanna and Major Penitentiarius; Antonio del Monte of the titular church of St. Vitale; and Pietro Accolti of the titular church of St. Eusebius); and two cardinal deacons (Alessandro Farnese of the titular church of St. Eustachio; and Luigi d'Aragona of the titular church of St. Maria in Cosmedin). He added to the commission some prelates and two secretaries, namely Tommaso Inghirami and the unnamed secretary of the deceased Oliviero Carafa, possibly Jacopo Sadoleto). The commission apparently worked on its task for fourteen days.4 [End Page 136] On 30 March 1512 Julius II issued the bull Etsi Romanus Pontifex in which he rehearsed the complaints of the faithful regarding the excessive fees they are charged by many officials of the Roman Curia for their services. Without permission and with cunning these curialists have increased their fees. Led by avarice many officials have violated the rules setting the fees they may charge in justice and equity for their services. They abused the kindness and indulgence of previous popes and their own consciences and thereby incurred excommunication. This behavior has resulted in complaints, the endangerment of souls, and the scandal and bad example that injuries the reputation of the Roman Court. The pope out of his pastoral concern for protecting his flock, the salvation of souls, and the restoration of the good name of the Roman Curia has taken on the burden of trying to remove these intolerable abuses. He has therefore set up a commission of eight cardinals to discuss and examine the problem. After mature deliberation, the pope has decided (motu proprio) to renew the rules of his predecessors Nicholas V, Calixtus III, and Paul II that set the fees for curial services. Officials are to follow these rules and receive no additional recompense, not even if freely offered. Violations incur excommunication. On the first offense a fine of 100 ducats; on...