Pontifical Academy
Encyclopedia
A Pontifical Academy is an academic honorary society
established by or under the direction of the Holy See
. Some were in existence well before they were accepted as "Pontifical." Currently there are ten academies in Rome:
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
is not one of the Pontifical Academies, but is one of the Roman Colleges
.
All of the above information was taken directly from The Dictionary of Popes and the Papacy, Crossroad Publishing Co. NY
Learned society
A learned society is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline/profession, as well a group of disciplines. Membership may be open to all, may require possession of some qualification, or may be an honor conferred by election, as is the case with the oldest learned societies,...
established by or under the direction of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. Some were in existence well before they were accepted as "Pontifical." Currently there are ten academies in Rome:
- Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al PantheonPontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al PantheonThe Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon is one of the ten Pontifical Academies under the direction of the Holy See. The complete Italian name of the academy, Pontificia Insigne Accademia di Belle Arti e Letteratura dei Virtuosi al Pantheon, includes the adjective...
- founded in 1542 to study, cultivate, and perfect the fine arts. - Pontifical Academy of SciencesPontifical Academy of SciencesThe Pontifical Academy of Sciences is a scientific academy of the Vatican, founded in 1936 by Pope Pius XI. It is placed under the protection of the reigning Supreme Pontiff. Its aim is to promote the progress of the mathematical, physical and natural sciences and the study of related...
- founded in 1603 to honor and promote research. - Pontifical Academy of Theology - given papal approbation in 1718 and re-founded in 1956, it promotes the authentic Catholic faith.
- The Pontifical Academy of ArchaeologyPontifical Academy of ArchaeologyThe Pontifical Academy of Archaeology is an academic honorary society established in Rome by the Catholic Church for the advancement of Christian archaeological study...
- founded in 1810 and promotes Christian archeology and the history of Christian artChristian artChristian art is sacred art produced in an attempt to illustrate, supplement and portray in tangible form the principles of Christianity, though other definitions are possible. Most Christian groups use or have used art to some extent, although some have had strong objections to some forms of...
. - Pontifical Academy of MartyrsPontifical Academy of MartyrsThe Pontifical Academy of Martyrs or Pontificia Academia Cultorum Martyrum is an academic honorary society established in Rome by the Catholic Church for the advancement of the cult of saints and martyrs, the promotion and worship of the saints and the study of related early Christian history...
- founded in 1879 and promotes the veneration of the martyrs and the study of the catacombsCatacombsCatacombs, human-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place can be described as a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman empire...
. - Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas AquinasPontifical Academy of St. Thomas AquinasThe Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas was established on 15 October 1879 by Pope Leo XIII. The first Prefect was Cardinal Giuseppe Pecci a noted Thomist at the time...
- founded in 1879 and promotes the study of ThomismThomismThomism is the philosophical school that arose as a legacy of the work and thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, philosopher, theologian, and Doctor of the Church. In philosophy, his commentaries on Aristotle are his most lasting contribution...
. - Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate ConceptionPontifical Academy of the Immaculate ConceptionThe Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate Conception is an academic honorary society established in Rome by the Catholic Church for the advancement of the Marian dogma of Immaculate Conception....
- founded in 1879 and promotes and coordinates studies of Marian dogma. - Pontifical Academy of MaryPontifical Academy of MaryThe Pontifical Academy of Mary or Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis is an institution of higher education of the Roman Catholic Church which is focussed on the study of Mariology and Marian dedication...
- founded in 1946 and promotes MariologyMariologyRoman Catholic Mariology is theology concerned with the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ as developed by the Catholic Church. Roman Catholic teachings on the subject have been based on the belief that "The Blessed Virgin, because she is the Mother of God, is believed to hold a certain...
. - Pontifical Academy for LifePontifical Academy for LifeThe Pontifical Academy for Life or Pontificia Accademia Pro Vita is a Pontifical Academy of the Roman Catholic Church dedicated to promoting the Church's consistent life ethic...
- founded in 1994 and seeks to promote and defend life; headed formerly by BishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Elio SgrecciaElio SgrecciaElio Sgreccia is a bioethicist and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is President emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life....
, and now by ArchbishopArchbishopAn archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Salvatore FisichellaRino FisichellaSalvatore Rino Fisichella is an Italian titular archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current and first President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation...
, former rector of the Pontifical Lateran UniversityPontifical Lateran UniversityThe Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
. - Pontifical Academy of Social SciencesPontifical Academy of Social SciencesThe Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences was established in January 1994 by Pope John Paul II. It is headquartered in the Casina Pio IV in the Vatican. Professor Edmond Malinvaud was its first president...
- founded in 1994 and promotes social, economic, political, and legal sciences in the light of the church's social teachings
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy is one of the Roman Colleges of the Roman Catholic Church. The academy is dedicated to training priests to serve in the diplomatic corps and the Secretariat of State of the Holy See....
is not one of the Pontifical Academies, but is one of the Roman Colleges
Roman Colleges
Note: This article is based on the "Catholic Encyclopedia" 1913 and contains a large amount of out-dated information throughout, including the numbers of students...
.
All of the above information was taken directly from The Dictionary of Popes and the Papacy, Crossroad Publishing Co. NY