Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 27, 2026

Dicastery

A dicastery is a department in the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church.

Last revised
May 27, 2026
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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.

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.1

However, since Praedicate evangelium came into force, Pastor bonus and its content is obsolete.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.2

Current dicasteries

As of 2022, there are sixteen dicasteries:3

Dicastery Current prefect Country Picture
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández4  Argentina
Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Cardinal Arthur Roche5  United Kingdom
Dicastery for Evangelization Pope Leo XIV6  United States
 Peru
Dicastery for the Causes of Saints Cardinal Marcello Semeraro7  Italy
Dicastery for Bishops Archbishop Filippo Iannone  Italy
Dicastery for the Clergy Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik8  South Korea
Dicastery for the Eastern Churches Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti9  Italy
Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Sister Simona Brambilla10  Italy
Dicastery for Culture and Education Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça11  Portugal
Dicastery for the Service of Charity Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín12 Spain
Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell13  Ireland
Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity Cardinal Kurt Koch14  Switzerland
Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue Cardinal George Koovakad15  India
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development Cardinal Michael Czerny16  Czech Republic
 Canada
Dicastery for Legislative Texts Archbishop Anthony Randazzo17 Australia
Dicastery for Communication Mr. Paolo Ruffini18  Italy
References

References

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