Roman Curia
Roman Curia (Latin: Curia Romana) is the ensemble of dicasteries, institutions, and offices that assist the Roman Pontiff in the exercise of his supreme pastoral office for the good of the universal Catholic Church. It comprises the Secretariat of State, sixteen dicasteries, judicial bodies, economic institutions, offices, and other entities directly serving the Pope's mission.[1]
The current structure of the Roman Curia is governed by the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium promulgated by Pope Francis on 19 March 2022 and effective from 5 June 2022, which replaced the earlier Pastor Bonus (1988) of Pope John Paul II.[1] This reform emphasizes the missionary character of the Church, placing evangelization as a priority, and allows lay faithful, including women, to head dicasteries.[1] As of December 2025, the Curia operates under additional General Regulations and Personnel Regulations approved by Pope Leo XIV in November 2025, implementing further norms for governance and employment.[2]
The Roman Curia serves both the Pope and the bishops of the world, fostering communion, unity, and the Church's evangelizing mission in an evangelical spirit.[1]
History
The Roman Curia has ancient origins, evolving from the papal household and advisory bodies in the early Church. By the Middle Ages, it included the Apostolic Chancery and other offices assisting the Pope in governance.[3]
Significant reforms occurred in the 16th century under Pope Sixtus V with Immensa Aeterni Dei (1588), establishing fifteen congregations. Further developments followed, including the 1908 reform by Pope Pius X and the 1967 Apostolic Constitution Regimini Ecclesiae Universae of Pope Paul VI, which responded to the Second Vatican Council's call for renewal.[4]
Pope John Paul II's Pastor Bonus (1988) reorganized the Curia into congregations, councils, and other bodies. The most recent reform, Praedicate Evangelium (2022), unified most entities under the term "dicastery," prioritized evangelization, and promoted synodality and inclusivity.[1]
Current Structure
According to Praedicate Evangelium, the Roman Curia consists of:
- The Secretariat of State, which coordinates and assists the Pope closely.
- Sixteen Dicasteries, listed in order of precedence:
- Dicastery for Evangelization
- Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
- Dicastery for the Service of Charity
- Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
- Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints
- Dicastery for Bishops
- Dicastery for the Clergy
- Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
- Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life
- Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity
- Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
- Dicastery for Culture and Education
- Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
- Dicastery for Legislative Texts
- Dicastery for Communication[1]
Additional components include three tribunals (Apostolic Penitentiary, Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Tribunal of the Roman Rota), economic bodies (e.g., Secretariat for the Economy, Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See), and offices such as the Prefecture of the Papal Household and the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.[1]
As of December 2025, the structure remains as established in 2022, with ongoing implementation through the new regulations promulgated under Pope Leo XIV.[5]
Significance in Catholic Tradition
The Roman Curia is an instrument of service to the successor of Peter and to the particular Churches, promoting communion and supporting the Pope's Petrine ministry.[1] Rooted in the ecclesiology of the Second Vatican Council, particularly Lumen Gentium, it reflects the collegial and synodal dimensions of the Church while upholding the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.[6]
Praedicate Evangelium underscores that the Curia exists for evangelization and service, not power, and must embody missionary conversion.[1] It facilitates the universal mission of the Church, ensuring doctrinal fidelity, pastoral care, and administrative support worldwide.
External links
- The Roman Curia (Official Vatican page)
- Praedicate Evangelium – Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Roman Curia
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Praedicate Evangelium". Vatican. 19 March 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_constitutions/documents/20220319_costituzione-ap-praedicate-evangelium.html.
- ↑ "The Roman Curia". Vatican. https://www.vatican.va/content/romancuria/en.html.
- ↑ "Catholic Encyclopedia: Roman Curia". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04517a.htm.
- ↑ "Catholic Encyclopedia: Roman Curia". https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04517a.htm.
- ↑ "The Roman Curia". Vatican. https://www.vatican.va/content/romancuria/en.html.
- ↑ "Lumen Gentium". https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html.