Pope Francis has formally established the new Vatican mega-body responsible for family, lay people and life issues, appointing the current Bishop of Dallas, Irish-born Kevin Farrell, as its head (see Crux report and analysis here and here).In Sedula Mater, the formal decree establishing the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life  -- which opens its doors on 1 September -- Pope Francis says he wants to offer particular help and support to lay people, families and life "because they are an active witness of the Gospel in our time and an expression of the kindness of the Redeemer."The new body subsumes a number of different existing bodies, and may point to a new kind of Vatican department that combines both advisory and legislative functions (see CV Comment.)In another significant appointment, the Pope named Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia -- who used to head the Vatican's Council for the Family until it was subsumed into the new dicastery -- as the new head of the Pontifical Academy for Life (see Crux).