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The Papal Curia is rather like the secular Civil Service. It exists to help the papacy govern the Roman Church more efficiently. Instead of ministries, though, it is divided into Congregations, each with its own speciality. They are also known as Dicasteries, a title taken over from Roman Imperial use. The number of Congregations has increased in line with felt needs, perhaps mostly at the time of the Counter- Reformation, and then in connection with Vatican II.
The most important department is the Secretariat of State or Papal Secretariat, and whoever holds the headship here wields very great influence. Weekly reports are received from papal nuncios and envoys all over the world. In 1721 the Secretary of State became Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Papal States. Only the Vatican now remains. Obviously it handles international and diplomatic affairs, but also deals with papal correspondence and media matters, as well as a variety of other concerns.
The Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition was set up by Paul III in 1542 to defend the Church against heresy. In 1908 it was renamed the Holy Office, and its present title is the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, with its aim the encouragement of sound theology. The Index of Forbidden Books was abolished in 1965. In recent decades it has had problems with liberal theologians like Hans Kung and has had to struggle with liberation theology. This Dicastery may be the most powerful in the Vatican.
The Congregation of Bishops prepares the ground for papal appointments throughout the world, except in mission areas. All bishops are meant to visit Rome to report to this department every five years. Across the centuries bishops have been appointed in a variety of ways, but the Code of Canon Law of 1983 states that, “The Supreme Pontiff freely appoints Bishops or confirms those lawfully elected.” The notorious Opus Dei organisation operates under this Congregation and so escapes local Episcopal control. The Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints sees through the process of canonisation. Originally this was more a matter of local popular veneration, but it came eventually under Vatican control. The present Pop has canonised more saints than any of his predecessors.
The Congregation for the Clergy was the body originally responsible for implementing the decrees of the Council of Trent, and it covers the intellectual and spiritual life of priest. It is concerned with preaching and teaching, involving approval of local catechetical directories. It is also concerned with material matters like buildings, taxes, pensions, and health. The Congregation of Catholic Education looks after Seminaries, Universities and Institutes of Higher Education, and Roman Catholic Schools.
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