The Pontifical Academy of Mary or Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis (P.A.M.I.) is an institution of higher education of the Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 which is focussed on the study of Mariology

Mariology

Roman 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...

 and Marian dedication. It is located within the Città del Vaticano.

History

The Academy was established in July 1946 by the Order of Friars Minor with the specific task of organising scientific debates and conferences as well as care for the publication of the Bibliotheca Mariana. It was also responsible for studies relating to the dogma of the Immaculate Conception

Immaculate Conception

The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...

 which celebrated its first centenary.

In December 1959, Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXIII

-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...

 gave the Academy permission to style itself as a Pontifical institution.

Activities

In 1950 the Academy gained international recognition with the organisation of the first International Mariological Congress and the eighth International Marian Congress. Congresses in 1948 and 1958 followed.

The Academy has the task of coordinating the other Marian

Marian

Marian may refer to:* Marian , people with the given name Marian* Maid Marian, companion of Robin Hood* Marian, an adjective for things relating to Gaius Marius...

 academies and societies that exist all over the world and to "exercise vigilance against any Marian excess or minimalism".

See also

• The Pontifical Theological Faculty Marianum
  Marianum
  The Marianum is both the name of a Pontifical institute for the study of Mariology and the name of the prestigious journal of Marian theology. The school and the journal share the same name since their formation was based on the work of Father Gabriel Roschini, who founded both the journal and the...
  
  .