Dicastery

Disciplinary status: Church discipline
Evidence type: Historical account
GuideThe office and its competence are governed by current ecclesiastical law; origins, former arrangements, and particular holders are historical matters. Canonical discipline must not be confused with dogma.
Contents

A dicastery is a principal institution of the Roman Curia through which the Roman Pontiff ordinarily conducts the business of the universal Church in a defined field.

A dicastery (/dɪˈkæstəri/; from Greek δικαστήριον (dikastērion) 'law-court'; from δικαστής, dikastes, 'judge, juror') is a department in the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church.

Nature of the office

Dicasteries assist the Pope in teaching, governance, discipline, charity, evangelization, and other universal responsibilities. They exercise authority in his name according to their competence and do not possess an independent sovereignty alongside him.

Canonical place

Praedicate evangelium governs the present Curia, including dicasteries, judicial bodies, offices, and related institutions. Leadership and membership depend on the nature of each body and the norms of its constitution and proper law. Every dicastery therefore acts within an assigned competence and in coordination with the other institutions of the Curia.[1][2]

History

Pastor bonus

Pastor bonus (1988) includes this definition:

By the word "dicasteries" are understood the Secretariat of State, Congregations, Tribunals, Councils and Offices, namely, the Apostolic Camera, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.[3]

However, since Praedicate evangelium came into force, Pastor bonus and its content is obsolete.

Praedicate evangelium

Under the new structure of the Roman Curia created by Praedicate evangelium (effective since 5 June 2022), the former congregations and pontifical councils are replaced with dicasteries.[4]

Current dicasteries

As of 2022, there are sixteen dicasteries:[5]

DicasteryCurrent prefectCountryPicture
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the FaithCardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández[6]Argentina
Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the SacramentsCardinal Arthur Roche[7]United Kingdom
Dicastery for EvangelizationPope Leo XIV[8]United States Peru
Dicastery for the Causes of SaintsCardinal Marcello Semeraro[9]Italy
Dicastery for BishopsArchbishop Filippo IannoneItaly
Dicastery for the ClergyCardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik[10]South Korea
Dicastery for the Eastern ChurchesCardinal Claudio Gugerotti[11]Italy
Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic LifeSister Simona Brambilla[12]Italy
Dicastery for Culture and EducationCardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça[13]Portugal
Dicastery for the Service of CharityArchbishop Luis Marín de San Martín[14]Spain
Dicastery for the Laity, Family and LifeCardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell[15]Ireland
Dicastery for Promoting Christian UnityCardinal Kurt Koch[16]Switzerland
Dicastery for Interreligious DialogueCardinal George Koovakad[17]India
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human DevelopmentCardinal Michael Czerny[18]Czech Republic Canada
Dicastery for Legislative TextsArchbishop Anthony Randazzo[19]Australia
Dicastery for CommunicationMr. Paolo Ruffini[20]Italy

References

  1. 1.Code of Canon Law, canons 360–361 and Praedicate evangelium — Universal or special law governing the office and its competence
  2. 2.Pope Francis, Praedicate evangelium — Apostolic constitution governing the Roman Curia
  3. 3."Pastor Bonus: Dicasteries". Archived from the original on June 1, 2013.
  4. 4.""Praedicate Evangelium" on the Roman Curia and its service to the Church and to the World (19 March 2022)". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  5. 5."Pope Francis reforms Roman Curia with launch of Vatican constitution". Catholic News Agency. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  6. 6."Current Superiors". www.doctrinafidei.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  7. 7."Dicasteries Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  8. 8."Dicasteries Dicastery for Evangelization Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  9. 9."Dicasteries Dicastery for the Causes of Saints Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  10. 10."Dicasteries Dicastery for the Clergy Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  11. 11."Dicasteries Dicastery for the Eastern Churches Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  12. 12."Dicasteries Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  13. 13."Dicasteries Dicastery for Culture and Education Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  14. 14."Pope appoints new Papal Almoner, names Cardinal Krajewski Archbishop of Łódź - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 2026-03-12. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  15. 15."Dicasteries Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  16. 16."Dicasteries Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  17. 17."Dicasteries Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  18. 18."Dicasteries Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  19. 19."Australia's Archbishop Randazzo named Prefect of Dicastery for Legislative Texts - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 2026-03-25. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  20. 20."Dicasteries Dicastery for Communication Structure". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-09-23.