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Dicastery (from Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
 d??ast?????, law-court, from d???st??, judge/juror) is an Italicism sometimes used in English to refer to the Departments of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia

The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Roman Catholic Church, together with the Pope....
.

Apart from the Secretariat of State
Secretariat of State (Vatican)

The Secretariat of State is the oldest dicastery in the Roman Curia, the government of the Roman Catholic Church. It is headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, and performs all the political and diplomatic functions of Vatican City and the Holy See....
 (the Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
's secretariat), these Dicasteries or Departments are grouped in the following categories:






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Dicastery (from Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
 d??ast?????, law-court, from d???st??, judge/juror) is an Italicism sometimes used in English to refer to the Departments of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia

The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Roman Catholic Church, together with the Pope....
.

Apart from the Secretariat of State
Secretariat of State (Vatican)

The Secretariat of State is the oldest dicastery in the Roman Curia, the government of the Roman Catholic Church. It is headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, and performs all the political and diplomatic functions of Vatican City and the Holy See....
 (the Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
's secretariat), these Dicasteries or Departments are grouped in the following categories:
  1. Congregations
    Congregation (Roman Curia)

    A congregation is a type of dicastery of the Roman Curia, the central administrative organism of the Catholic Church.Each Congregation is led by a prefect, who is a Cardinal ....
    , headed by a Prefect, who is most frequently a cardinal
    Cardinal (Catholicism)

    A cardinal is a senior Ecclesiology official, usually a Bishop , of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope....
    :
    1. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
      Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

      The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition, and sometimes simply called the Holy Office is the oldest of the nine congregation of the Roman Curia....
    2. The Congregation for the Oriental Churches
      Congregation for the Oriental Churches

      The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the congregation of the Roman Curia 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...
    3. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
      Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

      The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is the congregation of the Roman Curia that 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....
    4. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints
      Congregation for the Causes of Saints

      The Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process which leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification....
    5. The Congregation for Bishops
      Congregation for Bishops

      The Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which 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 Chuches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending pope approval....
    6. The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
      Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

      The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities....
    7. The Congregation for the Clergy
      Congregation for the Clergy

      The Sacred Congregation for the Clergy is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for overseeing matters regarding priests and deacons not belonging to religious orders....
    8. The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
      Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

      The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns Institute of Consecrated Life and Society of Apostolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and privileges....
    9. The Congregation for Catholic Education
      Congregation for Catholic Education

      The Congregation for Catholic Education is the Pontifical congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for: seminary and houses of formation of religious and secular institutes; universities, faculties, institutes and higher schools of study, either ecclesial or civil dependent on ecclesial persons; and schools and educational institute...
       (for Seminaries and Educational Institutions)
  2. Tribunals:
    1. The Apostolic Penitentiary
      Apostolic Penitentiary

      The Apostolic Penitentiary, more formally the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunals of the Roman Curia....
      , headed by the Penitentiary Major, for the "internal forum" (matters of conscience, absolution of censures)
    2. The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
      Apostolic Signatura

      The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church besides the Pope himself, who is the supreme ecclesiastical judge....
      , headed by the Prefect
    3. The Tribunal of the Roman Rota, headed by the Dean, which judges cases such as those brought to prove the nullity of a marriage
  3. Pontifical Councils, each headed by a President
    1. The Pontifical Council for the Laity
      Pontifical Council for the Laity

      The Pontifical Council for the Laity has the responsibility of assisting the Pope in his dealings with the laity in Roman Catholic lay ecclesial movement or individually, and their contributions to the Church....
    2. The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
      Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity

      The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity origins are associated with the Second Vatican Council which met intermittently from 1962-1965....
    3. The Pontifical Council for the Family
      Pontifical Council for the Family

      The Pontifical Council for the Family is part of the Roman Curia of the Roman Catholic Church. It was established by Pope John Paul II on May 9, 1981 with the Motu Proprio Familia a Deo Instituta and substituted for the Committee for the Family of Pope Paul VI, which had been established in 1973....
    4. The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
      Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

      The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is a part of the Roman Curia dedicated to "action-oriented studies" for the international promotion of justice, peace, and human rights from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church....
    5. The Pontifical Council Cor Unum
      Pontifical Council Cor Unum

      The Pontifical Council Cor Unum for Human and Christian Development is part of the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church. It was established by Pope Paul VI on 15 July 1971 and is based in the Palazzo San Callisto, in Piazza San Callisto, Rome....
    6. The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
    7. The Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers
    8. The Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts
    9. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
      Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

      The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is a dicastery of the Roman Curia. It was erected by Pope Paul VI on May 19, 1964 as the Secretariat for Non-Christians, and later renamed by Pope John Paul II on June 28, 1988....
    10. The Pontifical Council for Culture
      Pontifical Council for Culture

      The Pontifical Council for Culture dates back to the Second Vatican Council. A whole section of that documents on the Church, Gaudium et Spes, emphasises the fundamental importance of culture for the full development of the human person....
    11. The Pontifical Council for Social Communications
      Pontifical Council for Social Communications

      The Pontifical Council for Social Communications is a dicastery of the Roman Curia. Established by Pope John Paul II on June 28, 1988, it is responsible for using the various forms of the Mass media in spreading the Gospel....
  4. Offices:
    1. The Apostolic Camera
      Apostolic Camera

      The Apostolic Camera, or in Latin Camera Apostolica or Apostolica Camera, is the former 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 Cardinal Camerlengo....
      , headed by the Camerlengo
      Camerlengo

      The Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church is an official of the Papal court.The Camerlengo is the administrator of the property and revenues of the Holy See; his responsibilities formerly included the fiscal administration of the Papal States....
    2. The Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
      Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See

      The Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See is part of the Roman Curia that deals with the "properties owned by the Holy See in order to provide the funds necessary for the Roman Curia to function"....
    3. The Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See
      Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See

      The Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See is an office of the Roman Curia, erected on 15 August 1967, and entrusted with overseeing all the offices of the Holy See that manage finances, regardless of their degree of autonomy....
  5. Other bodies:
    1. The Prefecture of the Papal Household (often referred to as the Audience Office)
    2. The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff
      Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff

      The 'Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff' is described in Pastor Bonus as:Art. 182 ? ? 1. The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff is to prepare all that is necessary for the liturgical and other sacred celebrations performed by the Supreme Pontiff or in his name and supervise them accordin...
    3. The Central Statistics Office of the Church
    4. Papal Commissions, of which the following are given special prominence:
      1. The Pontifical Commission for the Patrimony of the Church
      2. The Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology
      3. The Pontifical Biblical Commission
        Pontifical Biblical Commission

        The Pontifical Biblical Commission is a committee of Cardinal , aided by consultors, who meet in Rome to ensure the proper interpretation and defense of Sacred Scripture....
      4. The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei
        Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

        The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei is a commission of the Roman Catholic Church established by Pope John Paul II motu proprio Ecclesia Dei of 2 July 1988 for the care of those former followers of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre who broke with him as a result of his Ec?ne Consecrations of four priests of his Society of St....
      5. The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
        Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State

        The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is the legislative body of Vatican City. It consists of Cardinal s appointed to five year terms by the pope....


The Commissions are often classified not as integral parts of the Roman Curia but rather as associated with it in a way similar to the way the Vatican Secret Archives
Vatican Secret Archives

The Vatican Secret Archives , located in the Vatican City, is the central repository for all of the acts promulgated by the Holy See. These archives also contain the state papers, correspondence, pope account books, and many other documents which the church has accumulated over the centuries....
 and the Vatican Apostolic Library are connected with the Holy See
Holy See

The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church....
.

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