Papal Congregation
Papal Congregation
A department of the Roman Curia, consisting of a number of cardinals , and permanently established to handle a certain class of administrative business. One of the cardinals presides over it as prefect, or as secretary if the pope is the prefect. To it are attached the required officials and a body of consultors. Its function is to see that laws are observed, to publish instructions to this end, to apply the law in particular cases, and to grant dispensations within its competency. The congregations lack legislative and, except the Holy Office, judicial power. As first organized by Sixtus V, 22 January 1588 , there were 15 congregations; but the number has varied according to the needs of the times. Today there are 11, excluding the so-called Congregation of the Fabric of Saint Peter’s. These are the
Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs
Congregation for the Affairs of Religious
Congregation for the Oriental Church
Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
Congregation of Sacred Rites
Congregation of Seminaries and Universities
Congregation of the Ceremonies
Congregation of the Consistory
Congregation of the Council
Congregation of the Discipline of the Sacraments
Congregation of the Holy Office
New Catholic Dictionary