The Roman Congregations
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The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith |
Looks after Catholic doctrine (the beliefs that the Church teaches)
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The Congregation for the Oriental Churches |
Keeps in touch with the Eastern Catholic Churches
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The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments |
In charge of Catholic liturgy (the way Catholics worship)
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The Congregation for the Causes of Saints |
Controls the process of declaring someone a saint
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The Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples |
In charge of missionary work
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The Congregation for the Clergy |
Looks after priests and deacons who are not in a religious order
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The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life |
Looks after members of religious orders (like Benedictine monks and Carmelite nuns)
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Congregation for Catholic Education (in Seminaries and Institutes of Study) |
Oversees Catholic education in schools, universities, and seminaries (places were priests are trained)
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The Congregation for Bishops |
Helps choose new bishops
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The Tribunals
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The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary |
The Supreme Court for issues that have to do with forgiveness of sin
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The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura |
The Supreme Court for other matters (like the annulment of marriage)
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The Apostolic Tribunal of the Roman Rota |
The highest appeals court in the Roman Catholic Church
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The Pontifical Councils
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The Pontifical Council for the Laity |
Helps the Pope in dealings with ordinary Catholics ("laity" are people who are not priests or clergy)
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The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity |
Arranges working with other Churches and promotes ecumenism
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The Pontifical Council for the Family |
Promotes the care, rights, and dignity of families
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The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace |
Works for justice, peace, and human rights
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The Pontifical Council Cor Unum |
Does humanitarian relief work after disasters; encourages charity; and is in charge of other Catholic organizations that do these things
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The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants |
Looks after the religious needs of migrants, refugees, exiles, and people without homes
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The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers |
Looks after the religious needs of health care workers
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The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts |
Interprets the Church's laws when there is a question about what they mean
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The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue |
Encourages different religious groups to study each other's religions, think, and talk together
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The Pontifical Council for Culture |
Tries to create good relationships between the Catholic Church and people of different cultures
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The Pontifical Council for Social Communications |
In charge of using the media to spread the Gospel.
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The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization |
In charge of spreading Catholicism in places where it is common, but religion is getting less popular
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The Synod
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The Synod of Bishops |
A group of Bishops chosen to advise the Pope
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The Offices
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The Apostolic Camera |
The Church's central board of finance
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The Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See |
Manages and deals the Holy See's properties
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The Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See |
Manages the financial investments and budget of Vatican City and the Roman Catholic Church (except the Vatican Bank)
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Council for the Economy |
Supervises the financial activities of all of Vatican City, including the Holy See and the Roman Curia
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The Office of the Auditor General |
Audits the Roman Curia and the government of Vatican City (for example, to make sure no fraud is happening)
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The Pontifical Commissions
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The Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church |
Guards the art, books, papers, and other important things in the Church's libraries and archives
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The Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology |
Protects ancient Catholic cemeteries and monuments in Rome
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The Pontifical Biblical Commission |
Made of Bible scholars who interpret the Bible and answer questions that come up about it
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The International Theological Commission |
Helps the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith answer important questions about Catholic doctrine
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The Interdicasterial Commission for the Catechism of the Catholic Church |
A temporary commission set up to translate the Church's Catechism into Latin
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The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei |
Looks after the religious care of certain clergy and laity, with the goal of ending a disagreement in the Church
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The Pontifical Commission for Latin America |
Looks after the Church in Latin America
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The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors |
Makes sure children are safe in the Church
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Other institutions
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The Swiss Guard |
Guard the Apostolic Palace, the entrances to the Vatican City, and the Pope, and keep them safe
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The Pontifical Academies |
There are ten academies in which leading teachers and scientists help to advise the Pope
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The Labour Office |
In charge of keeping good relationships with the people who work at the Vatican, and solving problems when workers are unhappy
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