Congregation for Catholic Education
Encyclopedia
The Congregation for Catholic Education (in Seminaries and Institutes of Study) (Congregatio de Institutione Catholica (de Seminariis atque Studiorum Institutis)) is the Pontifical congregation
of the Roman Curia
responsible for: (1) 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; (2) universities, faculties, institutes and higher schools of study, either ecclesial or civil dependent on ecclesial persons; and (3) schools and educational institutes depending on ecclesiastical authorities.
Pope Sixtus V
created the forerunner of the Congregation in 1588, with the Constitution Immensa, to oversee the University of Rome La Sapienza
and other notable universities of the time, including Bologna
, Paris
and Salamanca
. Pope Leo XII
, in 1824, created the Congregatio studiorum for educational institutions in the Papal States
which, in 1870, began to oversee Catholic universities. Pope Saint Pius X
confirmed this responsibility in 1908 and Pope Benedict XV
erected in 1915 the section for seminaries (which existed within the Consistorial Congregation), joined to it the Congregatio studiorum, and called it Congregatio de Seminariis et Studiorum Universitatibus. In 1967, Pope Paul VI
renamed it Sacra Congregatio pro institutione Catholica. The present name "Congregation for Catholic Education (in Seminaries and Institutes of Study)" derives from Pope John Paul II's
1988 apostolic constitution
entitled Pastor Bonus
. The congregation conducts apostolic visits to Catholic institutions and receives bishops during their quinquennial visits
ad limina apostolorum, nominates rector
s and erects seminaries
.
The current Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education (since November 15, 1999) is His Eminence
, Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, age 70. The current Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education (since November 10, 2007) is His Excellency
, The Most Reverend
Archbishop
Jean-Louis Bruguès
, O.P., age 66. The current Undersecretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education (since January 7, 2002) is The Reverend Monsignor
Angelo Vincenzo Zani, age 59. Cardinal Grocholewski is also the Cardinal President of the formally affiliated agency the Pontifical Work for Ecclesiastical Vocations.
To fulfill its mission, this Congregation has four Offices or Departments:
Significant Papal Documents pertaining to the Mission of the Congregation for Catholic Education
Congregation (Roman Curia)
A congregation is a type of dicastery of the Roman Curia, the central administrative organism of the Catholic Church....
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 Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
responsible for: (1) seminaries
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
(except those regulated by the Congregations for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
and for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery 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,...
) and houses of formation of religious and secular institutes; (2) universities, faculties, institutes and higher schools of study, either ecclesial or civil dependent on ecclesial persons; and (3) schools and educational institutes depending on ecclesiastical authorities.
Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V , born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590.-Early life:The chronicler Andrija Zmajević states that Felice's family originated from modern-day Montenegro...
created the forerunner of the Congregation in 1588, with the Constitution Immensa, to oversee the University of Rome La Sapienza
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
and other notable universities of the time, including Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
, Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
and Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
. Pope Leo XII
Pope Leo XII
Pope Leo XII , born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiore Girolamo Nicola Sermattei della Genga, was Pope from 1823 to 1829.-Life:...
, in 1824, created the Congregatio studiorum for educational institutions in the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
which, in 1870, began to oversee Catholic universities. Pope Saint Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
confirmed this responsibility in 1908 and Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV , born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from 3 September 1914 to 22 January 1922...
erected in 1915 the section for seminaries (which existed within the Consistorial Congregation), joined to it the Congregatio studiorum, and called it Congregatio de Seminariis et Studiorum Universitatibus. In 1967, Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
renamed it Sacra Congregatio pro institutione Catholica. The present name "Congregation for Catholic Education (in Seminaries and Institutes of Study)" derives from Pope John Paul II's
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
1988 apostolic constitution
Apostolic constitution
An apostolic constitution is the highest level of decree issued by the Pope. The use of the term constitution comes from Latin constitutio, which referred to any important law issued by the Roman emperor, and is retained in church documents because of the inheritance that the canon law of the...
entitled Pastor Bonus
Pastor Bonus
Pastor Bonus is an Apostolic Constitution promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988. It instituted a number of reforms in the process of running the central government of the Roman Catholic Church, as article 1 states "The Roman Curia is the complex of dicasteries and institutes which help...
. The congregation conducts apostolic visits to Catholic institutions and receives bishops during their quinquennial visits
Quinquennial Visit Ad Limina
In the Roman Catholic Church, a quinquennial visit ad limina or more properly, quinquennial visit ad limina apostolorum or simply an ad limina visit means the obligation of residential diocesan bishops and certain prelates with territorial jurisdiction , of visiting the thresholds of the [tombs of...
ad limina apostolorum, nominates rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
s and erects seminaries
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
.
The current Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education (since November 15, 1999) is His Eminence
His Eminence
His Eminence is a historical style of reference for high nobility, still in use in various religious contexts.-Catholicism:The style remains in use as the official style or standard of address in reference to a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, reflecting his status as a Prince of the Church.A...
, Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, age 70. The current Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education (since November 10, 2007) is His Excellency
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
, The Most Reverend
Most Reverend
The Most Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church , all bishops are styled "The Most Reverend", as well as monsignors of the rank of protonotary apostolic de numero.*In the Roman Catholic Church , archbishops are styled "The...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Jean-Louis Bruguès
Jean-Louis Bruguès
Jean-Louis Bruguès, OP is a French prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who currently serves as Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.-Biography:...
, O.P., age 66. The current Undersecretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education (since January 7, 2002) is The Reverend Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Angelo Vincenzo Zani, age 59. Cardinal Grocholewski is also the Cardinal President of the formally affiliated agency the Pontifical Work for Ecclesiastical Vocations.
To fulfill its mission, this Congregation has four Offices or Departments:
- The Office for Seminaries;
- The Office for Universities, which has a newly established section, the Department for International Organizations;
- The Office for Schools;
- The affiliated Office for Pontifical Work for Ecclesiastical Vocations.
Significant Papal Documents pertaining to the Mission of the Congregation for Catholic Education
- The Apostolic Constitution Ex corde Ecclesiae of John Paul II (15 August 1990) - on the identity and mission of Catholic Universities, and on General Norms concerning Catholic Higher Education institutions.
- The Apostolic Constitution Sapientia christiana of John Paul II (29 April 1979)- on General and Special Norms concerning Ecclesiastical Faculties.
Prefects since 1915
- Gaetano BisletiGaetano BisletiGaetano Bisleti S.T.D. was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and was former Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education.Gaetano Bisleti was born in Veroli, Italy...
(1915-1937) - Giuseppe PizzardoGiuseppe PizzardoGiuseppe Pizzardo was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Prefect of the Congregation for Seminaries and Universities from 1939 to 1968, and Secretary of the Holy Office from 1951 to 1959...
(1939-1968) - Gabriel-Marie GarroneGabriel-Marie GarroneGabriel-Marie Garrone was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and a Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education....
(1968-1980) - William Wakefield Baum (1980-1990)
- Pio Laghi (pro-prefect 1990-1991, prefect 1991-1999)
- Zenon Grocholewski (1999- )
Secretaries since 1913
- Giacomo Sinibaldi (15 May 1913 – 1928)
- Ernesto RuffiniErnesto RuffiniErnesto Ruffini was an Italian Cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Palermo from 1945 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1946 by Pope Pius XII.-Biography:...
(28 October 1928 – 11 October 1945) - Giuseppe Rossino (1945 – 31 December 1949)
- Archbishop Carlo Confalonieri (25 January 1950 – 15 December 1958)
- Archbishop Dino StaffaDino StaffaDino Staffa was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura from 1967 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1967.-Early life and ordination:...
(18 December 1958 – 7 April 1967) - Archbishop Joseph SchröfferJoseph SchröfferJoseph Schröffer was a German Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Seminaries and Universities from 1967 to 1976, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1976....
(17 May 1967 – 20 May 1976) - Archbishop Antonio María Javierre OrtasAntonio María Javierre OrtasAntonio María Javierre Ortas S.D.B. was a cardinal of the Catholic Church, and former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the Vatican....
, S.D.B. (20 May 1976 – 26 May 1988) - Archbishop José Saraiva Martins, C.M.F. (26 May 1988 – 30 May 1998)
- Giuseppe Pittau, S.J. (11 July 1998 – 25 November 2003)
- John Michael MillerJohn Michael MillerJohn Michael Miller, CSB is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is currently Archbishop of Vancouver and its 475,000 Catholics. Miller, who prefers to be known as J...
, C.S.B. (25 November 2003 – 1 June 2007) - Jean-Louis BruguèsJean-Louis BruguèsJean-Louis Bruguès, OP is a French prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who currently serves as Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.-Biography:...
, O.P. (10 November 2007 - present)
Documents published by the Congregation for Catholic Education
- Decree on the Reform of Ecclesiastical Studies in Philosophy (2011)
- Guidelines on the Use of Psychology in the Admission and Formation of Candidates for the Priesthood (2008)
- Reform of the Higher Institutes of Religious Sciences (2008)
- Educating Together in Catholic Schools. A Shared Mission between Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful (2007)
- Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders (2005)