Congregation Of Bishops
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The Dicastery for Bishops, formerly named Congregation for Bishops (), is the department of the
Roman Curia The Roman Curia () comprises the administrative institutions of the Holy See and the central body through which the affairs of the Catholic Church are conducted. The Roman Curia is the institution of which the Roman Pontiff ordinarily makes use ...
of the
Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
that oversees the selection of most new
bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
s. Its proposals require
papal The pope is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the pope was the sovereign or head of sta ...
approval to take effect, but are usually followed. The
Dicastery A dicastery (; ; from ) is the name of some departments in the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest C ...
also schedules the visits at five-year intervals ("''ad limina''") that bishops are required to make to Rome, when they meet with the pope and various departments of the Curia. It also manages the formation of new dioceses. It is one of the more influential Dicasteries, since it strongly influences the human resources policy of the church. The jurisdiction of the Dicastery does not extend to mission territories, under the
Dicastery for Evangelization The Dicastery for Evangelization is a department (dicastery) of the Roman Curia. It was created on 5 June 2022 through the merger of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peop ...
, or areas managed by the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches (which has responsibility for all
Eastern Catholics The Eastern Catholic Churches or Oriental Catholic Churches, also known as the Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches, Eastern Rite Catholicism, or simply the Eastern Churches, are 23 Eastern Christian autonomous ('' sui iuris'') particular churches of ...
, and for
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
Catholics in the Middle East and Greece). Where appointment of bishops and changes in diocesan boundaries require consultation with civil governments, the Secretariat of State has primary responsibility, but must consult the Dicastery for Bishops. The Dicastery also have oversight of investigations into allegations of abuse and negligence by bishops. The Dicastery for Bishops has jurisdiction over the
Pontifical Commission for Latin America The Pontifical Commission for Latin America is a department of the Roman Curia that since 1958 has been charged with providing assistance to and examining matters pertaining to the Catholic Church in Latin America. The Commission operates under t ...
, and the dicastery's prefect also serves as the commission's president.


History

The Dicastery for Bishops has its origins in the "Congregation for the Erection of Churches and Consistorial Provisions" founded by
Pope Sixtus V Pope Sixtus V (; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death, in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order, where h ...
on 22 January 1588. Before the
Second Vatican Council The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the or , was the 21st and most recent ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. The council met each autumn from 1962 to 1965 in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City for session ...
, when the pope announced the names of new cardinals at a Secret Consistory, that is, a consistory that only churchmen attended, the names of new cardinals would be read out, followed by those of archbishops and bishops. The name was changed from the Sacred Consistorial Congregation to the Congregation for Bishops in 1967. Between 30 June 2010 and 2023, its Prefect was Cardinal Marc Ouellet. Between 2023 and 8 May 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (who would become
Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, September 14, 1955) has been head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State since May 2025. He is the first pope to have been born in the United States and North America, the fir ...
) was its Prefect. On 13 July 2022,
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
appointed women as members of this Dicastery for the first time, two religious and one laywoman (
Raffaella Petrini Raffaella Petrini (born 15 January 1969) is an Italian Catholic religious sister who has served as president of the Pontifical Commission and Governorate of Vatican City State since March 2025. She was Secretary General of the Governorate of V ...
,
Yvonne Reungoat Yvonne Reungoat (born 14 January 1945 in Plouénan, France) is a French religious sister, who is a former Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. In July 2022, she has been appointed as a member in the Vatican's Dicastery f ...
, and
María Lía Zervino María Lía Zervino (born 1951 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentinian consecrated virgin and a sociologist. Being a member of the ''Asociación de Vírgenes Consagradas Servidoras'' ("Association of Consecrated Virgin Servants") she served as Preside ...
).


Current procedure

The Dicastery's members who live in Rome meet every other Thursday for an entire morning. Appointments for four dioceses are reviewed in a typical session. Before the meeting, dicastery members are sent documentation on the candidates for each diocese. At the meeting, one member takes the role of the presenter (''ponente''), reviews the information and makes his own recommendation from the list (''terna'') of three candidates. Each member, in order of seniority, offers his assessment. The Dicastery's recommendations, including any doubts, questions or minority opinions, are sent to the pope. He usually approves the dicastery's decision, but may choose to send it back for further discussion and evaluation. The prefect then meets with the pope every Saturday and presents the recommendations of the dicastery. A few days later, the pope informs the dicastery of his decision. The dicastery then notifies the nuncio, who in turn contacts the candidate and asks if he will accept the appointment.


Course of Formation for New Bishops

Every September the Dicastery holds the "Annual Course of Formation for New Bishops", also known as "New Bishop School" and informally "Baby Bishop School". Attendance is mandatory for those ordained in the previous year. Topics are spiritual and practical, from imitating the leadership of Jesus to handling crises. There was a particular focus on "synodality", which was defined as listening and engaging the faithful. The event also encompasses meeting the pope. There are talks such as on the new media in relation to evangelisation; and the rapport between psychological development and spiritual commitment. There were also talks on administration, canon law, and the reform of the Roman Curia.


Leadership


Secretaries of the Congregation for the Erection of Churches and Consistorial Provisions (1588–1965)

* (1710–1730) *
Carlo Gaetano Stampa Carlo III Gaetano Stampa (1667–1742) was an Italian cardinal and Archbishop of Milan from 1737 to 1742. Early life Carlo Gaetano Stampa was born on 1 November 1667 in Milan to count Cristiano Stampa and Giustina of the House of Borromeo. ...
(1735–1737) *
Niccola Paracciani Clarelli Niccola Paracciani Clarelli (12 April 1799 – 7 July 1872) was a Catholic Cardinal and was Arch-Priest of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. He was also Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops a ...
(1860–1872?) * Carmine Gori-Merosi (1882–1886) * Carlo Nocella (1892–1903) * Gaetano de Lai (1908–1928) *
Carlo Perosi Carlo Perosi (18 December 1868 – 22 February 1930) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Secretary of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation from 1928 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 19 ...
(1928–1930) * Raffaele Rossi (1930–1948) *
Adeodato Giovanni Piazza Adeodato Giovanni Piazza, OCD (30 September 1884 – 30 November 1957) was an Italian friar of the Discalced Carmelite Order, who became a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, and Patriarch of Venice, as well as a member of the Roman Curia i ...
(1948–1957) *
Marcello Mimmi Marcello Mimmi (18 July 1882 – 6 March 1961) was an Italian Cardinal (Catholicism), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archdiocese of Naples, Archbishop of Naples from 1952 to 1957, and Secretary of the Congregation for Bish ...
(1957–1961) * Carlo Confalonieri (1961–1965)


Prefects

In 1965, the head of the congregation took the title prefect, while the prefect's deputy took that of secretary. * Carlo Confalonieri (1965–1973) *
Sebastiano Baggio Sebastiano Baggio (16 May 1913 – 21 March 1993) was an Italian cardinal, often thought to be a likely candidate for election to the papacy. He served as President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Gover ...
(1973–1984) *
Bernardin Gantin Bernardin Gantin (8 May 1922 – 13 May 2008) was a Beninese Catholic prelate who held senior positions in the Roman Curia for twenty years and the highest position in the College of Cardinals for nine years. His prominence in the hierarchy o ...
(1984–1998) *
Lucas Moreira Neves Lucas Moreira Neves, OP (16 September 1925 – 8 September 2002) was a Brazilian Catholic prelate who served as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops from 1998 to 2000. He previously served as Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia from 19 ...
, OP (1998–2000) *
Giovanni Battista Re Giovanni Battista Re (born 30 January 1934) is an Catholic Church in Italy, Italian Catholic prelate who has served as Dean of the College of Cardinals since 2020. He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal (Catholic Church), cardinal in 2001 and s ...
(2000–2010) * Marc Ouellet, PSS (2010–2023) * Robert Francis Prevost, OSA (2023–2025) ''(elected Pope Leo XIV at the
2025 papal conclave A conclave was held on 7 and 8 May 2025 to elect a new pope to succeed Pope Francis, Francis, who had died on 21 April 2025. Of the 135 eligible Cardinal electors in the 2025 papal conclave, cardinal electors, all but two attended. Cardinal Piet ...
)''


Secretaries

The secretary of the Dicastery for Bishops is concurrently the secretary of the
College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals (), also called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. there are cardinals, of whom are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Appointed by the pope, ...
. During a
papal election A conclave is a gathering of the College of Cardinals convened to appoint the pope of the Catholic Church. Catholics consider the pope to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and the earthly head of the Catholic Church. Concerns around po ...
the secretary of the Dicastery acts as the secretary to the conclave. * Francesco Carpino (1961–1967) * Ernesto Civardi (1967–1979) *
Lucas Moreira Neves Lucas Moreira Neves, OP (16 September 1925 – 8 September 2002) was a Brazilian Catholic prelate who served as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops from 1998 to 2000. He previously served as Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia from 19 ...
, OP (1979–1987) *
Giovanni Battista Re Giovanni Battista Re (born 30 January 1934) is an Catholic Church in Italy, Italian Catholic prelate who has served as Dean of the College of Cardinals since 2020. He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal (Catholic Church), cardinal in 2001 and s ...
(1987–1989) * Justin Francis Rigali (1989–1994) * Jorge María Mejía (1994–1998) * Francesco Monterisi (1998–2009) *
Manuel Monteiro de Castro Manuel Monteiro de Castro (born 29 March 1938) is a Portuguese prelate of the Catholic Church who worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1967 to 2009, with the rank of archbishop and the title of nuncio from 1985. His assignments ...
(2009–2012) * Lorenzo Baldisseri (2012–2013) *
Ilson de Jesus Montanari Ilson de Jesus Montanari (born 18 July 1959) is a Brazilian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been secretary of the Congregation for Bishops since 12 October 2013 and Vice Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church since 1 May 2020. Biography Mo ...
(2013–present)


See also

*
Appointment of Catholic bishops The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complicated process. Outgoing bishops, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, various members of the Roman Curia, and the pope all have a role in the selection. The exact p ...


References


External links

*
The Roman Curia: Dicastery for Bishops
{{Authority control 1588 establishments in the Papal States Catholic organizations established in the 16th century Religious organizations established in the 1580s