Pontifical Lateran University
Encyclopedia
The Pontifical Lateran University (Pontificia Università Lateranense or Lateranum) is a university
by pontifical right based in Rome
, Italy
. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
. The university is known as "The Pope's University" as it is the only Pontifical University in Rome which was neither founded nor is currently governed by a Religious Order. The university's Grand Chancellor is the Vicar General to the Holy Father for the Diocese of Rome
, and thus the university is placed directly under the authority of the Pope. The university can boast of four saints among its alumni. Today the Pontifical Lateran university has a student body from over 100 nationalities.
after he had suppressed the Society of Jesus
, and officially entrusted the clergy of Rome
with the mission to teach theology
and philosophy
to seminarians from the Roman Colleges.
In 1824 Pope Leo XII
restored the order and returned to the Jesuits what became the Pontifical Gregorian University
, but allowed the secular clergy who had been replaced to continue to devote themselves to teaching: at the site where the Palace of Saint Apollinaris stood in 1853, Pius IX
founded the Faculty of Canon Law
and Civil Law
and the Pontifical Institute Utriusque Iuris. The new institution took the name of Pontifical Roman Seminary University.
Pius XI
gave the Ateneo its permanent seat at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, and in 1932 the Chancellor was assigned as Cardinal vicar of Rome. Pope Pius XII
in 1958 established the Pontifical Institute Pastorale. The following year, Pope John XXIII
erected the institute into a university and gave it the name of the Pontifical Lateran University.
In 1981 Pope John Paul II
founded, in the University, the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
, which has the right to confer academic degrees.
Since 2001, the Lateran University Press has been officially established to take care of numerous prestigious scientific publications and the seven magazines that make up the quality contribution offered to the international scientific community.
According to the Decree of the Ministry of University and Scientific Research of the Italian Republic of 21 September 2006, implementing the Law No. 63, March 5, 2004, the Laurea
in Law (L/31) and Laurea Magistrale in Law (LMG/01) are equivalent to degrees issued by Italian universities.
Agostino Vallini
. The current rector is the theologian Salvatore Fisichella
, Titular Bishop
of Voghiera
. Grand Chancellors of the Pontifical Lateran University since 1991 are:
A new building for the housing of the library and reading room was built and officially inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI on 21 October 2007.
Presently the library consists of some 600,000 books. There is also a collection of 40,000 rare and antique volumes.
The Theological Institute of Assisi is a training college established in 1971 in Assisi in the structures of Saint Francis sharing the premises of the Sacred Convent with the community of Friars Minor Conventual.
The Institute also has a documentation center. Since 1993, it is attached to the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical University Lateran, and serves as the academic institution designed to train students in theology. In this regard, it organizes courses of studies leading to diplomas of Bachelor of Sacred Theology
and Licentiate of Sacred Theology
as well as Franciscan studies for those wishing to be recruited into church office or intending to teach the Catholic religion in schools.
The Institute is currently chaired by John Bishop Hats.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
by pontifical right based in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
The Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family is a Roman Catholic pontifical institute of theological studies with locations around the world....
. The university is known as "The Pope's University" as it is the only Pontifical University in Rome which was neither founded nor is currently governed by a Religious Order. The university's Grand Chancellor is the Vicar General to the Holy Father for the Diocese of Rome
Cardinal Vicar
Cardinal Vicar is a title commonly given to the vicar general of the diocese of Rome for the portion of the diocese within Italy. The official title, as given in the Annuario Pontificio , is "Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome"...
, and thus the university is placed directly under the authority of the Pope. The university can boast of four saints among its alumni. Today the Pontifical Lateran university has a student body from over 100 nationalities.
History
The present Pontifical Lateran University was founded in 1773 by Pope Clement XIVPope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV , born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, was Pope from 1769 to 1774. At the time of his election, he was the only Franciscan friar in the College of Cardinals.-Early life:...
after he had suppressed the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, and officially entrusted the clergy of Rome
Diocese of Rome
The Diocese of Rome is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Rome, Italy. The bishop of Rome is the Pope, who is the Supreme Pontiff and leader of the Catholic Church...
with the mission to teach theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
to seminarians from the Roman Colleges.
In 1824 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:...
restored the order and returned to the Jesuits what became the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
, but allowed the secular clergy who had been replaced to continue to devote themselves to teaching: at the site where the Palace of Saint Apollinaris stood in 1853, Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
founded the Faculty of Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
and Civil Law
Civil law (area)
Civil law in continental law is a branch of law which is the general part of private law.The basis for civil law lies in a civil code. Before enacting of codes, civil law could not be distinguished from private law...
and the Pontifical Institute Utriusque Iuris. The new institution took the name of Pontifical Roman Seminary University.
Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
gave the Ateneo its permanent seat at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, and in 1932 the Chancellor was assigned as Cardinal vicar of Rome. Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
in 1958 established the Pontifical Institute Pastorale. The following year, Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
erected the institute into a university and gave it the name of the Pontifical Lateran University.
In 1981 Pope John Paul II
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 ...
founded, in the University, the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
The Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family is a Roman Catholic pontifical institute of theological studies with locations around the world....
, which has the right to confer academic degrees.
Since 2001, the Lateran University Press has been officially established to take care of numerous prestigious scientific publications and the seven magazines that make up the quality contribution offered to the international scientific community.
According to the Decree of the Ministry of University and Scientific Research of the Italian Republic of 21 September 2006, implementing the Law No. 63, March 5, 2004, the Laurea
Laurea
In Italy, the laurea is the main post-secondary academic degree.-Reforms due to the Bologna process:Spurred by the Bologna process, a major reform was instituted in 1999 to introduce easier university degrees comparable to the bachelors...
in Law (L/31) and Laurea Magistrale in Law (LMG/01) are equivalent to degrees issued by Italian universities.
Structure
The title of the Grand Chancellor is, under the statutes of the University, the vicar general of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, which currently is the CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Agostino Vallini
Agostino Vallini
Agostino Vallini is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Vicar General of Rome, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2006.-Biography:...
. The current rector is the theologian Salvatore Fisichella
Rino Fisichella
Salvatore Rino Fisichella is an Italian titular archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current and first President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation...
, Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Voghiera
Voghiera
Voghiera is a comune in the Province of Ferrara in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 45 km northeast of Bologna and about 13 km southeast of Ferrara...
. Grand Chancellors of the Pontifical Lateran University since 1991 are:
- Camillo Ruini (1 July 1991 - 27 June 2008)
- Agostino ValliniAgostino ValliniAgostino Vallini is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Vicar General of Rome, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2006.-Biography:...
(27 June 2008–present)
Rectors
- Umberto BettiUmberto BettiUmberto Betti, O.F.M., S.T.D. was an Italian priest of the Order of Friars Minor who on 24 November 2007 was appointed a Cardinal-Deacon of the Roman Catholic Church....
, O.F.M. ( 1991 - 1995 ) - Angelo Scola (15 Jul 1995 - 5 Jan 2002)
- Salvatore FisichellaRino FisichellaSalvatore Rino Fisichella is an Italian titular archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current and first President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation...
(18 Jan 2002 - 30 Jun 2010) - Enrico dal Covolo, S.D.B. (30 Jun 2010 - )
Faculties
The University is divided into 5 faculties:- PhilosophyPhilosophyPhilosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
- Sacred TheologySacred theologySacred theology is the name given to the theological degrees offered in a number of theological colleges, including the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church.It is offered at the following levels:*Bachelor of Sacred Theology...
- Utriusque Iuris
- Canon LawCanon lawCanon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
- Civil lawCivil law (legal system)Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
Library
The library of the Pontifical Lateran University - "Library of Blessed Pius IX", known originally as the "Biblioteca Pia" - was founded by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854. The history of the library is connected directly to the foundation of the university at its original seat at St. Apollinare in Rome. The library is in fact a collection of smaller libraries from various ecclesial and academic institutes in Rome which have been amalgamated to form the present library. The library consists of collections from the private libraries of Pope Gregory XIII, Blessed Pope Pius IX, Pope Pius XII, the German College,the monastery of SS. Bonifacio and Alessio on the Aventine, and the library of the Geronimiani fathers. Successively various ex-alumni have contributed to the library.A new building for the housing of the library and reading room was built and officially inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI on 21 October 2007.
Presently the library consists of some 600,000 books. There is also a collection of 40,000 rare and antique volumes.
Theological Institute of Assisi
The University is also linked to university Pastoral Institute Redemptor Hominis and the Theological Institute of Assisi.The Theological Institute of Assisi is a training college established in 1971 in Assisi in the structures of Saint Francis sharing the premises of the Sacred Convent with the community of Friars Minor Conventual.
The Institute also has a documentation center. Since 1993, it is attached to the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical University Lateran, and serves as the academic institution designed to train students in theology. In this regard, it organizes courses of studies leading to diplomas of Bachelor of Sacred Theology
Bachelor of Sacred Theology
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is a graduate-level academic degree in theology.The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is offered by a number of Pontifical Universities. It is sometimes offered as a graduate degree, for students who have already completed a B.A. or other first degree...
and Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
as well as Franciscan studies for those wishing to be recruited into church office or intending to teach the Catholic religion in schools.
The Institute is currently chaired by John Bishop Hats.