# Catholic Church Governance This note is a collection of links, comments and reflections on how the Catholic Church is governed — including its leadership structure, legal system, finances, diplomatic relations and internal reforms. --- ## Entries ### Institutions and administrative structure #### The Holy See (governance) - Central Bodies: The Holy See governs the Catholic Church through a architecture centered in Vatican City but operating globally. At its core is the **Roman Curia**, the central administrative body that assists the Pope in exercising his universal mission. Within it, several dicasteries (a department or office) hold particular influence. The **Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith** is one of the most powerful institutions, historically known as the Inquisition. It oversees theological orthodoxy and disciplines dissent. The **Dicastery for Bishops** plays a role in appointing and transferring bishops around the world. The **Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life** deals with key themes such as gender, sexuality, and family roles within Church teaching and public life. - Financial and Economic Governance: In recent years, the Vatican has made efforts to reform its economic governance. The **Secretariat for the Economy**, created under Pope Francis, was designed to bring financial transparency and central oversight. The **[[Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA)]]** manages the Church’s real estate and investments, while the **[[Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR)]]** — often referred to as the “Vatican Bank” — handles financial services for religious institutions. - Judicial Authority: The Church also operates a distinct **judicial system**, anchored by the **Apostolic Signatura** (its highest court) and the **Roman Rota**, which primarily hears appeals on marriage and canonical cases. The **Code of Canon Law** undergirds this system, and these bodies are responsible for its interpretation and enforcement. - Global Governance: Two governance tools extend papal authority across national borders: the **episcopal appointment process**, through which the Pope designates bishops and archbishops worldwide; and **concordats** or bilateral agreements with states, which regulate the Church’s legal and financial status in various national contexts. - Advisory Bodies: The Holy See also maintains **advisory and academic institutions**, such as the **Synod of Bishops**, which consults the Pope on doctrinal and pastoral matters, and the **Pontifical Academies** (for Sciences, Life and Social Sciences), which contribute to the Church’s engagement with contemporary topics. - External Relations: Externally, the **Secretariat of State** manages the Church’s diplomatic affairs, representing the Holy See to over 180 countries and international bodies, including the United Nations. This diplomatic presence, combined with the sovereignty of **Vatican City State**, ensures the Church’s independence and soft power on the global stage. #### National and regional institutions - Brazilian National Conference of Bishops (CNBB) - Archdiocese of São Paulo #### International networks - International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) - International Association of Jesuit Business Schools (IAJBS): ESADE ([[Escola Superior d'Administració i Direcció d'Empreses]], Catalonia), Universidad del Pacífico (Peru), Unisinos (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Brazil) #### Religious orders and congregations - **[[Society of Jesus (Jesuits)]]:** Founded in 1540, the Jesuits are one of the most influential Catholic orders, known for education, missionary work, and intellectual contributions. They operate hundreds of schools and over 200 universities worldwide. - **Franciscans**: - **Salesians of Don Bosco**: - **Benedictines**: - **Dominicans (Order of Preachers)**: - **Missionaries of Charity**: Founded by Mother Teresa in 1950, dedicated to serving the "poorest of the poor" in urban slums worldwide. - **Claretian Missionaries**: Focused on missions, publishing, and education, especially in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. #### Prelatures - **Opus Dei:** The only personal prelature in the Church, founded in Spain in 1928. It promotes holiness through secular work and lay life. Known for its influence in education and politics. - **Prelature of São Félix do Araguaia:** A territorial prelature in the Brazilian Amazon, historically linked to liberation theology and Indigenous rights under Bishop Pedro Casaldáliga. ### Catholic institutions in society** #### Lay movements and communities - **[[Focolare Movement]]:** Founded in 1943 in Italy, it promotes unity, interreligious dialogue, and shared community life. Active in over 180 countries. #### Health and social services - **Catholic Hospitals and Health Institutions:** The Catholic Church is one of the largest non-governmental providers of health care, operating over 26% of the world’s health care facilities, often through religious orders. - **Caritas and Other Catholic Social Services:** _[[Caritas Internationalis]]_, based in Rome, coordinates a worldwide confederation of national branches dedicated to social protection, emergency aid, and sustainable development. These include _Cáritas Brasileira_, _Caritas Chile_, _Caritas Europa_, _Caritas Asia_, and _Caritas Africa_. In the United States, _[[Catholic Relief Services (CRS)]]_ operates globally in conflict zones and areas of humanitarian need. In the UK, _CAFOD_ (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) is active in development cooperation. The _[[Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)]]_ works in over 50 countries to support refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons through legal aid, education, and psychosocial care. In Germany, _Misereor_ plays a key role in funding Catholic development projects in the Global South. - **Pastoral Care Ministries:** Includes ministries for health, prisons, migrants, youth, rural communities, and Indigenous peoples — often coordinated through bishops’ conferences or diocesan offices. Examples include the **Pastoral Care of Health**, **Prison Ministry**, **Migrant Ministry**, the **Catholic Rural Life** network (USA), and national initiatives such as Brazil’s **Land Pastoral Commission (CPT)** and the **[[Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI)]]**, both known for their advocacy on behalf of marginalized rural and Indigenous populations. #### Education and research - **Catholic Universities and Colleges:** The Catholic Church sponsors a large network of higher education institutions across continents. In Latin America, examples include the _[[Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile]]_, _Pontificia Universidad Javeriana_ (Colombia, Jesuit) and, in Brazil, the _Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)_, _Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP)_, and _Unisinos_ (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, a Jesuit university). In the US, [[Georgetown University]] is an important Jesuit university. In Europe, influential universities include the _Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium). - **Faith-Based Schools and Seminaries:** Catholic religious orders such as the Jesuits, Salesians, Marist Brothers, and Ursulines operate thousands of schools worldwide, including elite secondary institutions like _Colegio San Ignacio_ (Chile). #### Development and fellowship programs - **[Röpke-Wojtyła Fellowship](https://business.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/entrepreneurship-center/ropke-wojtyla-fellowship/index.html)**: A year-long program at The [[Catholic University of America]] that trains Catholic undergraduate in market order, social thought and Catholic intellectual tradition. #### Catholic media and communications The Catholic Church maintains one of the most extensive media ecosystems among global religious institutions. At the center is the **Dicastery for Communication**, which coordinates the Vatican’s official media platforms — including **Vatican News**, the multilingual online portal; **L’Osservatore Romano**, the Vatican’s daily newspaper; and various institutional social media channels. Beyond the Vatican, Catholic media networks operate independently or under episcopal conferences in various regions: - **EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network)**, based in the United States, is one of the largest Catholic television networks in the world, with strong ties to conservative Catholic movements. - In Brazil, several major Catholic communication initiatives are organized through foundations: The **Fundação João Paulo II** maintains TV Canção Nova; the **Fundação Nossa Senhora Aparecida** oversees Rede Aparecida de Comunicação, which includes TV Aparecida and Rádio Aparecida, and is linked to the National Sanctuary of Aparecida and supported by the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB). ### Organizations with chaplaincy presence Some secular organizations operate with historical or ethical ties to the Catholic Church, often maintaining the presence of chaplains or partnerships with religious communities. Examples include **TECHO**, founded in Chile with Jesuit involvement, now a secular housing NGO active across Latin America. ### Institutional tendencies in contemporary catholicism Catholic institutional life today reflects a wide range of theological and political tendencies. While many organizations avoid explicit ideological labels, their positions on doctrine, public policy, and church reform often align them — implicitly or explicitly — with broader currents. Below is a non-exhaustive overview of institutions broadly associated with more **tradition-oriented** or more **change-oriented** approaches within the Church. #### Tradition-oriented institutions and networks - **Opus Dei** (personal prelature): Focuses on sanctifying secular work and lay formation through fidelity to Catholic teaching. - **[[Acton Institute]]**: Promotes Catholic social teaching in dialogue with free-market principles and limited government. - **Human Life International (HLI)**: Active in anti-abortion and pro-family advocacy globally. - **Augustinus Institut** (Germany): Supports conservative Catholic scholarship in theology and philosophy. #### Change-oriented institutions and networks - **[[Instituto Humanitas Unisinos (IHU)]]** (Brazil, Jesuit): A center for interdisciplinary research on religion, politics, and ecology, rooted in liberation theology and critical theory. - **We Are Church**: A lay-led movement advocating for internal Church reforms, including women’s ordination, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and democratization of governance.