Roman Curia

The Secretariat of State is the oldest dicastery in the Roman Curia, the government of the Roman Catholic Church. It is headed by the Secretary of State, since 15 October 2013 by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is responsible for all the political and diplomatic functions of the Holy See. The Secretariat is divided into two sections, the Section for General Affairs and the Section for Relations with States, known as the First Section and Second Section, respectively. The Secretariat of State was created in the 15th century[14] and is now the department of the curia most involved in coordinating the Holy See's activities. Matters not clearly within the competence of another dicastery are dealt with by the Secretariat of State.[15]

The Secretariat for the Economy was established by Pope Francis in 2014, with the Australian Cardinal George Pell, formerly the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, as its Cardinal Prefect (2014 - 12 December 2018).

Pope Francis announced on 15 August 2016 the creation of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, effective 1 September 2016. It took over the responsibilities of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family.[16] As its first Prefect, Francis named Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, Texas,[17]

Pope Francis announced the erection of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on 31 August 2016, effective 1 January 2017. He named Cardinal Peter Turkson its first prefect. Combining the work of four Pontifical Councils established following the Second Vatican Council,[18] Pope Francis gave it responsibility for "issues regarding migrants, those in need, the sick, the excluded and marginalized, the imprisoned and the unemployed, as well as victims of armed conflict, natural disasters, and all forms of slavery and torture".[19] The Pope announced that "temporarily" he would personally direct the dicastery's Migrants and Refugees Section.[20][21]

Pope Francis established the Secretariat for Communications on 27 June 2015, incorporating the Pontifical Council for Social Communications; the Press Office of the Holy See (Vatican Press Office); the Vatican Internet Service (VIS); Vatican Radio; Vatican Television Center; the L'Osservatore Romano newspaper; Tipografia Vaticana; Servizio Fotografico; and the Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò, formerly the Director of the Vatican Television Center, was named the first Prefect.[22][23] Viganò resigned on 21 March 2018.

The Secretariat was renamed Dicastery for Communications on 23 June 2018,[24] and on 5 July 2018 Pope Francis appointed award-winning lay journalist Paolo Ruffini, as Prefect.[23]

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition, and sometimes simply called the Holy Office, is the oldest of the nine congregations of the Roman Curia. Among the most active of these major Curial departments, it oversees Catholic doctrine.[27] Its most familiar name for most of its history was the Holy Office of the Inquisition. Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer has served as its prefect since 1 July 2017.

The Basilica of the Annunciation is the largest Christian church building in the Middle East under the supervision of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

The Congregation for the Oriental Churches, established by Pope Benedict XV on 1 May 1917, is responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical, disciplinary and spiritual patrimony of the Latin Church, the heritage of the various Oriental Christian traditions. It has exclusive authority over the following regions: Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula, Eritrea and northern Ethiopia, southern Albania and Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, and Ukraine.[28] Its members include all Eastern Catholic patriarchs and major archbishops, as well as the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.[29] Cardinal Leonardo Sandri has served as its prefect since his appointment on 9 June 2007.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments[30] handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Catholic Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters relating to the Sacraments. It has been headed by Cardinal Robert Sarah as prefect since his appointment on 23 November 2014.

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints oversees the process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification. After preparing a case, including the approval of miracles, the case is presented to the pope, who decides whether or not to proceed with beatification or canonization.[31] As of September 2020, the last prefect, Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, has resigned and the post has not yet been filled.

The headquarters of the Propaganda fide in Rome with north facade on Piazza di Spagna by architect Bernini; seen here is the southwest facade by Borromini: etching by Giuseppe Vasi, 1761[32]

The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples is responsible for missionary work and related activities. It is perhaps better known by its former title, the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. Pope John Paul II renamed it in 1982 without altering its mission. Sr. Luzia Premoli, superior general of the Combonian Missionary Sisters, was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in 2014, becoming the first woman to be appointed a member of a Vatican congregation.[33] As of 8 December 2019, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is the prefect.[34]

The Congregation for the Clergy[35] is the department of the Roman Curia responsible for overseeing matters regarding priests and deacons not belonging to institutes of consecrated life or societies of apostolic life, as well as for the seminaries (except those regulated by the Congregations for the Evangelization of Peoples and for the Oriental Churches), and houses of formation of religious and secular institutes. The Congregation for the Clergy handles requests for dispensation from active priestly ministry, as well as the legislation governing presbyteral councils and other organizations of priests around the world. The Congregation does not deal with clerical sexual abuse cases, as those are handled exclusively by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Beniamino Stella of Italy has served as its prefect since 2013.

The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life[36] is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns institutes of consecrated life (religious institutes and secular institutes) and societies of apostolic life, both of men and of women, regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and privileges. João Braz de Aviz of Brazil has served as its prefect since 2011.

The Congregation for Catholic Education is responsible for:[37]

• universities, faculties, institutes and Catholic institutions of higher education, either
  • Ecclesiastical, which are governed by the apostolic constitution Veritatis Gaudium (29 January 2018) and which are tasked "to explore more profoundly the various areas of the sacred disciplines (e.g., Theology Ecclesiastical Philosophy, Canon Law); or
  • Non-ecclesiastical (offering secular sciences) dependent on ecclesiastical persons, which are governed by the apostolic constitution Ex corde Ecclesiae, as well as by the existing pertinent civil laws of countries in which they are collocated; and
• schools and educational institutes depending on ecclesiastical authorities.

Giuseppe Versaldi has headed it since 2015.

The Congregation for Bishops[38] oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal approval. It consequently holds considerable sway over the evolution of the church. It also schedules the papal audiences required for bishops every five years and arranges the creation of new dioceses. This office is headed by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, PSS.

The Apostolic Penitentiary,[39] more formally the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunals of the Roman Curia. The Apostolic Penitentiary is responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the Roman Catholic Church. The Apostolic Penitentiary has jurisdiction only over matters in the internal forum. Its work falls mainly into these categories:

• the absolution of excommunications latæ sententiæ reserved to the Holy See,
• the dispensation of sacramental impediments reserved to the Holy See, and
• the issuance and governance of indulgences.

The Tribunal of the Roman Rota is the highest appellate tribunal.[40] While usually trying cases in appeal in third instance (as is normally the case in the Eastern Catholic Churches),[41] or even in second instance if appeal is made to it directly from the sentence of a tribunal of first instance, it is also a court of first instance for cases specified in the law and for others committed to the Rota by the Roman Pontiff.[40][42] It fosters the unity of jurisprudence and, through its own sentences, is a help to lower tribunals.[40]

The greater part of its decisions concern the nullity of marriage. In such cases its competence includes marriages between two Catholics, between a Catholic and non-Catholic, and between two non-Catholic parties whether one or both of the baptized parties belongs to the Latin or an Eastern Rite.[43]

The court is named Rota (Latin for: wheel) because the judges, called auditors, originally met in a round room to hear cases.[44]

The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura[45] is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church besides the Pope himself, who is the supreme ecclesiastical judge. In addition, it is an administrative office for matters pertaining to the judicial activity of the whole church.

Appeals in standard judicial processes, if appealed to the Apostolic See, normally are not handled by the Signatura. Those go to the Roman Rota, which is the ordinary appellate tribunal of the Apostolic See. The Supreme Tribunal handles some of the more specialized kinds of cases, including the following:

• Petitions for a declaration of nullity against a Rotal decision;
• Conflicts of jurisdiction between two or more tribunals or dicasteries,
• Recourse against administrative acts of ordinaries and dicasteries (including some penal cases decided without using a court),

Although a Rotal decision can be appealed, if not res judicata, to a different panel (turnus) of the Rota, there is no right of appeal from a decision of the Signatura,[46] although a complaint of nullity on formal grounds is possible.[47] As an administrative office, it exercises jurisdiction (vigilance) over all the tribunals of the Catholic Church. It can also extend the jurisdiction of tribunals, grant dispensations for procedural laws, establish interdiocesan tribunals, and correct advocates.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity[48] is dedicated chiefly to the promotion of dialogue and unity with other Christian churches and ecclesial communities, but also, through a closely linked specific commission, to advancing religious relations with Jews.

The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts has responsibility for interpreting church law.[49][50]

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue[51] is the central office of the Catholic Church for promoting of interreligious dialogue in accordance with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, in particular the declaration Nostra aetate. It has the following responsibilities:

1. to promote mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between Catholics and the followers of other religious traditions;
2. to encourage the study of religions;
3. to promote the formation of persons dedicated to dialogue.

The Pontifical Council for Culture[52] (Latin: Pontificium Consilium de Cultura) has as its mission oversight of the relationship of the Catholic Church with different cultures. The Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers was merged with the Pontifical Council for Culture in 1993. On 30 July 2012, Pope Benedict XVI united the Council with the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Goods of the Church.[52]

The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization[53] is a pontifical council of the Roman Curia dedicated to catechetics and promoting the faith in parts of the world ("the West") where Christianity is well-established but is being affected by secularism.

The Apostolic Camera[54] was the central board of finance in the Papal administrative system, which at one time was of great importance in the government of the States of the Church and in the administration of justice, led by the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.

The Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See[55] deals with the "properties owned by the Holy See in order to provide the funds necessary for the Roman Curia to function".[56] It was established by Pope Paul VI on 15 August 1967 and composed of two sections. The Ordinary Section continued the work of the Administration of the Property of the Holy See, a commission to which Pope Leo XIII entrusted the administration of the property remaining to the Holy See after the complete loss of the Papal States in 1870. On 8 July 2014, the Ordinary Section was transferred to the newly established Secretariat for the Economy. The Extraordinary Section administers the funds given by the Italian government to implement the Financial Convention attached to the Lateran Treaty of 1929. These funds were previously managed by the Special Administration of the Holy See.[57]

The Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See[58] was erected on 15 August 1967 and was entrusted with overseeing all the offices of the Holy See that managed finances, regardless of their degree of autonomy. It did not manage finances itself, but instead audited the balance sheets and budgets of the offices that did. It then prepared and published annually a general financial report. It was consulted on all projects of major importance undertaken by the offices in question.[57] On 31 March 2015, Pope Francis transferred its operations into the Secretariat for the Economy.

Laocoön and his Sons in the Vatican Museum, which was under the care of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church

The Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church[59] was established in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, with the purpose of guarding the historical and artistic patrimony of the entire church which included works of art, historical documents, books, everything kept in museums as well as the libraries and archives. On 30 July 2012, Pope Benedict XVI merged the Commission into the Pontifical Council for Culture.

The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei[60] was established by Pope John Paul II on 2 July 1988 for the care of those former followers of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre who broke with him as a result of his consecration of four priests of his Society of St. Pius X as bishops on 30 June 1988, an act the Holy See deemed illicit and schismatic. On 2 July 2009 this commission was closely placed under the auspice of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, whose Prefect was ex officio President of the Commission while maintaining its separate identity.[61] On 17 January 2019, Pope Francis merged the Commission into the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.[62]

The Pontifical Commission for Latin America[63] is a dicastery of the Roman Curia. Established by Pope Pius XII on 19 April 1958, it is charged with providing assistance to and examining matters pertaining to the church in Latin America. The Commission operates under the auspices of the Congregation for Bishops.

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (Italian: Pontificia Commissione per la Tutela dei Minori) was instituted by Pope Francis on 22 March 2014 for the safeguarding of minors.[64] It is headed by Boston's Cardinal Archbishop, Seán Patrick O'Malley.

Good Shepherd fresco from the Catacombs of San Callisto under the care of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology

The Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology[65] was created by Pius IX on 6 January 1852 "to take care of the ancient sacred cemeteries, look after their preventive preservation, further explorations, research and study, and also safeguard the oldest mementos of the early Christian centuries, the outstanding monuments and venerable Basilicas in Rome, in the Roman suburbs and soil, and in the other Dioceses in agreement with the respective Ordinaries". Pius XI made the Commission pontifical and expanded its powers.[66]

The Pontifical Biblical Commission,[67] established 30 October 1902 by Pope Leo XIII, is a consultative body of scholars placed under the authority of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.[29] The commission's duties include:

1. to protect and defend the integrity of the Catholic Faith in Biblical matters
2. to further the progress of exposition of the Sacred Books, taking account of all recent discoveries
3. to decide controversies on grave questions which may arise among Catholic scholars
4. to give answers to Catholics throughout the world who may consult the Commission
5. to see that the Vatican Library is properly furnished with codices and necessary books
6. to publish studies on Scripture as occasion may demand.[68]

The International Theological Commission[69] (ITC) consists of 30 Catholic theologians from around the world. Its function is to advise the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) of the Roman Catholic Church. The Prefect of the CDF is ex officio the president of the ITC, which is based in Rome.

A temporary commission is sometimes established to deal with a matter involving the work of several departments of the Roman Curia.

The Interdicasterial Commission for the Catechism of the Catholic Church was created in 1993 to prepare the definitive text in Latin of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.[70] It produced the authoritative Latin text (editio typica) of the Catechism in 1997.

Others exist for longer periods. The Standing Interdicasterial Commission for the Church in Eastern Europe, set up by Pope John Paul II on 15 January 1993, as of 2012 is presided over by the Cardinal Secretary of State. Its membership includes the Secretary and the Undersecretary for Relations with States, and the Secretaries of the Congregations for the Eastern Churches, for the Clergy, and for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.[71]