The demand for “decentralization” in the Church, which was heard during the preparations for Vatican II, became more and more strongly linked as time went on with the demand for reform of the Curia. In an allocution to the members of the Curia (21 September 1963, AAS 55 [1963], pp. 793 –800), Paul VI responded by announcing his intention of reforming the Curia. He invited the Council to discuss the question, and the main results of the discussions were then embodied in the decree on the bishops (Christus Dominus). The Coun…