.gif)
Secretariat of State (Vatican)
Encyclopedia
The Secretariat of State is the oldest dicastery
in the Roman Curia
, the government of the Roman Catholic Church
. It is headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State
, Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., and performs all the political and diplomatic functions of Vatican City
and the Holy See
. The Secretariat is divided into two sections, the Section for General Affairs and the Section for Relations with States, known as the First Section and Second Section, respectively.
Leo X established another position, the Secretarius Intimus, to assist the Cardinal who had control of the affairs of State and to attend to correspondence in languages other than Latin, chiefly with the Apostolic Nuncios (who at that time were evolving into permanent diplomatic representatives). From these beginnings, the Secretariat of State developed, especially at the time of the Council of Trent
.
For a long time, the Secretarius Intimus, also called Secretarius Papae or Secretarius Maior, was almost always a Prelate, often endowed with episcopal rank. It was only at the beginning of the Pontificate of Innocent X that someone already a Cardinal and not a member of the Pope’s family was called to this high office. Innocent XII definitively abolished the office of Cardinal Nephew, and the powers of that office were assigned to the Cardinal Secretary of State alone.
On 19 July 1814, Pius VII established the [Sacred Congregation for the Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs], expanding the Congregation Super Negotiis Ecclesiasticis Regni Galliarum established by Pius VI in 1793. With the Apostolic Constitution Sapienti Consilio of 29 June 1908, Saint Pius X divided the Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs in the form fixed by the Codex Iuris Canonici of 1917 (Can. 263) and he specified the duties of each of the three sections: the first was concerned essentially with extraordinary affairs, while the second attended to the ordinary affairs, and the third, until then an independent body (the Chancery of Apostolic Briefs), had the duty of preparing and dispatching pontifical Briefs.
With the Apostolic Constitution Regimini Ecclesiae Universae of 15 August 1967, Paul VI reformed the Roman Curia
, implementing the desire expressed by the Bishops in the Second Vatican Council
. This gave a new face to the Secretariat of State, suppressing the Chancery of Apostolic Briefs, formerly the third section, and transforming the former first section, the Sacred Congregation for the Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, into a body distinct from the Secretariat of State, though closely related to it, which was to be known as the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church.
, which introduced a reform of the Roman Curia
and divided the Secretariat of State into two sections: the Section for General Affairs and the Section for Relations with States, which incorporated the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church. This guaranteed both unity of purpose and the specificity required in the service which the Secretariat of State is called to offer the Pope.
The Secretariat of State is presided over by a Cardinal who assumes the title of Secretary of State. As the Pope’s first collaborator in the governance of the universal Church, the Cardinal Secretary of State is the one primarily responsible for the diplomatic and political activity of the Holy See, in some circumstances representing the person of the Supreme Pontiff himself.
, making appointments to curial offices, publishing official communications, papal documents, handling the concerns of embassies to the Holy See, and keeping the papal seal and Fisherman's Ring. Abroad, the Section for General Affairs is responsible for organizing the activities of nuncio
s around the world in their activities concerning the local church.
known as the Substitute for General Affairs, or more formally, Substitute for General Affairs to the Secretary of State. The current Substitute for General Affairs to the Secretary of State is Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu
. There have been 9 substitutes since 1953:
Peter Brian Wells
.
with the Constitution Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum
in 1793 to deal with the problems created for the Church by the French Revolution
. In 1814, Pius VII gave this office responsibility for negotiations with all governments, renaming it the Extraordinary Congregation for the Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Catholic World . Some years later, Leo XII changed its name to the Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs , which remained its title until 1967 when Paul VI separated this body from the Secretariat of State, calling it the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church. This Council was later replaced by the present Section for Relations with States.
, the responsibilities of the Secretary for Relations with States are:
, the Secretary for Relations with States
, aided by a Prelate, the Under-Secretary for Relations with States, and assisted by Cardinals and Bishops. The secretary is often called the foreign minister
of the Vatican
. The current Secretary for Relations with States is Archbishop Dominique Mamberti
. The current Undersecretary for Relations with States is Monsignor
Ettore Balestrero
.
The current Delegate for Pontifical Representations is Archbishop Luciano Suriani
.
The current Head of Protocol is Monsignor Fortunatus Nwachukwu.
Dicastery
Dicastery is an Italicism sometimes used in English to refer to the Departments of the Roman Curia....
in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
, the government 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...
. It is headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
, Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., and performs all the political and diplomatic functions of Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
and 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...
. The Secretariat is divided into two sections, the Section for General Affairs and the Section for Relations with States, known as the First Section and Second Section, respectively.
History of the Secretariat of State
The origins of the Secretariat of State go back to the fifteenth century. The Apostolic Constitution Non Debet Reprehensibile of 31 December 1487 established the Secretaria Apostolica comprising twenty-four Apostolic Secretaries, one of whom bore the title Secretarius Domesticus and held a position of pre-eminence. One can also trace to this Secretaria Apostolica the Chancery of Briefs, the Secretariat of Briefs to Princes and the Secretariat of Latin Letters.Leo X established another position, the Secretarius Intimus, to assist the Cardinal who had control of the affairs of State and to attend to correspondence in languages other than Latin, chiefly with the Apostolic Nuncios (who at that time were evolving into permanent diplomatic representatives). From these beginnings, the Secretariat of State developed, especially at the time of the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
.
On 19 July 1814, Pius VII established the [Sacred Congregation for the Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs], expanding the Congregation Super Negotiis Ecclesiasticis Regni Galliarum established by Pius VI in 1793. With the Apostolic Constitution Sapienti Consilio of 29 June 1908, Saint Pius X divided the Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs in the form fixed by the Codex Iuris Canonici of 1917 (Can. 263) and he specified the duties of each of the three sections: the first was concerned essentially with extraordinary affairs, while the second attended to the ordinary affairs, and the third, until then an independent body (the Chancery of Apostolic Briefs), had the duty of preparing and dispatching pontifical Briefs.
With the Apostolic Constitution Regimini Ecclesiae Universae of 15 August 1967, Paul VI reformed the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
, implementing the desire expressed by the Bishops in the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. This gave a new face to the Secretariat of State, suppressing the Chancery of Apostolic Briefs, formerly the third section, and transforming the former first section, the Sacred Congregation for the Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, into a body distinct from the Secretariat of State, though closely related to it, which was to be known as the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church.
Current structure
On 28 June 1988, John Paul II promulgated the Apostolic Constitution Pastor BonusPastor Bonus
Pastor Bonus is an Apostolic Constitution promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988. It instituted a number of reforms in the process of running the central government of the Roman Catholic Church, as article 1 states "The Roman Curia is the complex of dicasteries and institutes which help...
, which introduced a reform of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
and divided the Secretariat of State into two sections: the Section for General Affairs and the Section for Relations with States, which incorporated the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church. This guaranteed both unity of purpose and the specificity required in the service which the Secretariat of State is called to offer the Pope.
The Secretariat of State is presided over by a Cardinal who assumes the title of Secretary of State. As the Pope’s first collaborator in the governance of the universal Church, the Cardinal Secretary of State is the one primarily responsible for the diplomatic and political activity of the Holy See, in some circumstances representing the person of the Supreme Pontiff himself.
Section for General Affairs
The Section for General Affairs handles the normal operations of the Church including organizing the activities of the Roman CuriaRoman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
, making appointments to curial offices, publishing official communications, papal documents, handling the concerns of embassies to the Holy See, and keeping the papal seal and Fisherman's Ring. Abroad, the Section for General Affairs is responsible for organizing the activities of nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
s around the world in their activities concerning the local church.
Substitutes for General Affairs
The Section for General Affairs is headed by an archbishopArchbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
known as the Substitute for General Affairs, or more formally, Substitute for General Affairs to the Secretary of State. The current Substitute for General Affairs to the Secretary of State is Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu
Giovanni Angelo Becciu
Giovanni Angelo Becciu is the current Substitute for General Affairs since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 10 May 2011. Archbishop Becciu had previously been nuncio to Cuba....
. There have been 9 substitutes since 1953:
- Nicola CanaliNicola CanaliNicola Canali was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State from 1939 and as Major Penitentiary from 1941 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1935...
(21 March 1908 - 24 September 1914) - Frederico Tedeschini (24 September 1914 - 31 March 1921)
- Angelo Dell'AcquaAngelo Dell'AcquaAngelo Dell'Acqua was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Vicar General of Rome from 1968 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1967.-Biography:...
(17 February 1953 – 29 June 1967) - Giovanni Benelli (29 June 1967 – 3 June 1977)
- Giuseppe Caprio (14 June 1977 – 28 April 1979)
- Eduardo Martínez SomaloEduardo Martínez SomaloEduardo Martínez Somalo is a Spanish Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life and ordination:Martínez Somalo was born in the small town of Baños de Río Tobía in La Rioja, Spain, and had five brothers and four sisters...
(5 May 1979 – 23 March 1988) - Edward Idris Cassidy (23 March 1988 – 12 December 1989)
- Giovanni Battista Re (12 December 1989 – 16 September 2000)
- Leonardo SandriLeonardo SandriLeonardo Sandri is a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Roman Curia, having previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela , Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico and Substitute for General Affairs...
(16 September 2000 – 1 July 2007) - Fernando FiloniFernando FiloniFernando Filoni is a Roman Catholic Archbishop and current Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples with the Roman Curia since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 10 May 2011. Msgr. Filoni is an expert in Chinese affairs and on the Middle East. -Education and early...
(1 July 2007 – 10 May 2011) - Giovanni Angelo BecciuGiovanni Angelo BecciuGiovanni Angelo Becciu is the current Substitute for General Affairs since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 10 May 2011. Archbishop Becciu had previously been nuncio to Cuba....
(10 May 2011 – )
Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State
The deputy to the Substitute for General Affairs, effectively deputy chief of staff, is called the Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. The current Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State is MonsignorMonsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Peter Brian Wells
Peter Brian Wells
Peter Brian Wells JCD STL is the current Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, effectively deputy to the chief of staff, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 16 July 2009. He had previously served under Fernando Filoni until May...
.
- Eduardo Martínez SomaloEduardo Martínez SomaloEduardo Martínez Somalo is a Spanish Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life and ordination:Martínez Somalo was born in the small town of Baños de Río Tobía in La Rioja, Spain, and had five brothers and four sisters...
(1970 – 11 December 1975) - Giovanni Battista Re (12 January 1979 – 9 October 1987)
- Crescenzio Sepe (10 October 1987 – 2 February 1992)
- Leonardo SandriLeonardo SandriLeonardo Sandri is a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Roman Curia, having previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela , Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico and Substitute for General Affairs...
(4 February 1992 – 22 July 1997) - Pedro Lopez Quintana (22 July 1997 – 12 December 2002)
- Gabriele Giordano CacciaGabriele Giordano CacciaGabriele Giordano Caccia PhD JCL is an Italian Catholic prelate, since 16 July 2009 Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon. He had previously served as Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State...
(17 December 2002 – 16 July 2009) - Peter Brian WellsPeter Brian WellsPeter Brian Wells JCD STL is the current Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, effectively deputy to the chief of staff, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 16 July 2009. He had previously served under Fernando Filoni until May...
(16 July 2009 – present)
Origin
The Congregation for the Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Kingdom of France was set up by Pope Pius VIPope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
with the Constitution Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum
Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum
The papal bull Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum issued in 1814 by Pope Pius VII reestablished the Society of Jesus . Pius VII had earlier, with the brief Catholicae Fidei , approved the existence of the Society of Jesus in Russia...
in 1793 to deal with the problems created for the Church by the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. In 1814, Pius VII gave this office responsibility for negotiations with all governments, renaming it the Extraordinary Congregation for the Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Catholic World . Some years later, Leo XII changed its name to the Sacred Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs , which remained its title until 1967 when Paul VI separated this body from the Secretariat of State, calling it the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church. This Council was later replaced by the present Section for Relations with States.
Responsibilities
The Section for Relations with States is responsible for the Holy See's interactions with civil governments. According to the relevant articles of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor BonusPastor Bonus
Pastor Bonus is an Apostolic Constitution promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988. It instituted a number of reforms in the process of running the central government of the Roman Catholic Church, as article 1 states "The Roman Curia is the complex of dicasteries and institutes which help...
, the responsibilities of the Secretary for Relations with States are:
- for the Holy See's diplomatic relations with states, including the establishment of concordats or similar agreements;
- for the Holy See's presence in international organizations and conferences such as the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
; - in special circumstances, by order of the Supreme Pontiff and in consultation with the competent dicasteries of the Curia, provides for appointments to particular Churches, and for their establishment or modification;
- in close collaboration with the Congregation for BishopsCongregation for BishopsThe Congregation for Bishops is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the selection of new bishops that are not in mission territories or those areas that come under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches who deal with the Eastern Catholics, pending papal...
, it attends to the appointment of bishops in countries which have entered into treaties or agreements with the Holy See in accordance with the norms of international law.
Structure
The Section for Relations with States is headed by an ArchbishopArchbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
, the Secretary for Relations with States
Secretary for Relations with States
The Secretary for Relations with States is the foreign minister of the Holy See, an official serving within the Secretariat of State and presiding over its "Section for Relations with States." This ex officio archbishop deals with relations between the Holy See and other governments and...
, aided by a Prelate, the Under-Secretary for Relations with States, and assisted by Cardinals and Bishops. The secretary is often called the foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
. The current Secretary for Relations with States is Archbishop Dominique Mamberti
Dominique Mamberti
Dominique François Joseph Mamberti is the current Secretary for Relations with States in the Roman Curia.-Education:Dominique Mamberti was born in Marrakesh, Morocco on 7 March 1952 and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Ajaccio, France on 20 September 1981. He has academic degrees in civil...
. The current Undersecretary for Relations with States is Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Ettore Balestrero
Ettore Balestrero
Ettore Balestrero is the current Undersecretary for Relations with States, the deputy to Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. Monsignor Ettore Balestrero will take his position as under-secretary in the section for relations with states...
.
The current Delegate for Pontifical Representations is Archbishop Luciano Suriani
Luciano Suriani
Luciano Suriani is a Catholic archbishop and Delegate for the Pontifical Representations. He had previously served as Nuncio to Bolivia....
.
The current Head of Protocol is Monsignor Fortunatus Nwachukwu.
External links
- Secretariat of State by Giga-Catholic Information
- Profile of the Secretariat from vatican.va
- The Pope's Team: the Vatican's Secretariat of State from Catholic Culture