The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-01-18
THE ROMAN CURIA
Its Organization and Functions
Changes Made by Pope Puts X.

Realizing the variety and the diver
sity of interests of the Church, it
might not be amiss to study the make
up of the various bodies which look
after these interests, writes Rev. John
]. Barrett, in Truth. There are some
departments in the Church with
which many are no doubt acquainted.
Still even these departments are more
or less unknown to the people of the
United States. Many know, of course,
that there is a secretary Of state,
with whose duties they are more or
less familiar owing to the newspapers
and also owing to the fact that We
have such an Office in our own gov
eminent. All know in general that he
is the chief representative of the
Pope to the outside world, both cleri-
cal and lay.
There are departments, however, in
Rome, concerning whose existence the
general public is more or less ignor-
ant. Oftentimes they will read in the
papers that the Holy Father has is
sued decree through this or that
congregation, or this or that office or
tribunal. The status, of course, of these
congregations, tribunals, or offices
is entirely unknown to most peo-
pie, and it is these after all that make
up the Roman Curia. 1t will be the
aim of this article to deal with the
Roman Curia, it's origin, it's organi-
cation and the functions of the diff
ferent bodies which go to compose
it. We shall look at each part in par
ticular and endeavor to point out
those duties which are peculiar to
each body.
The latest official announcement
that we have in regard to the Roman
Curia is a Pontifical decree issued by
Plus X on the 10Th of June, 1908, and
which is known as the ''Sapienti Con-
silio." This decree is of special in
terest to us of the United States, since
it places us on footing with the
Catholic countries of Europe in our
relation with the Holy See. Previous
to this time we were but a missionary
country and as such all our affairs
were under the jurisdiction of the
Sacred Congregation of the Propaga-
ton of the Faith. Such change we
can see is serious one, not only
from general point of view, but also
specifically. We now come in con-
tact with variety of Roman authori-
ties and in many instances canonical
ornnnd11r0 fo1s Sc oh DIV
decree of the Pope the entire Curia
is reorganized and placed upon a bet
ter working basis. That the changes
brought about in our regard by this
decree are indeed great we may see
if we but take single example. Pre-
vious to the issuance of this decree,
all Papal dispensation came to us
through the Sacred Congregation of
the Propagation of the Faith, whereas
now we obtain these from the congre-
cation which has jurisdiction in these
matters. This will be better under
stood when we speak of the particular
functions of each of the congrega-
tions.
The term 'curia" comes to us from
the Romans, among whom it had a
three-fold meaning. 1t meant, first of
all, division of the Roman people,
and this was made for the purpose
that the people might have a greater
interest in the affairs of the republic.
Such use of the word dates back to
the time of Romulus. The word later
on came to signify place of assem-
bly, and at times church or a tenn
pie. The third and last use of the
word was to designate the Senate of
the Roman people.
In the Church at the present time
the word might be said to have a
two-fold Specification. It is used to
designate a place or a body of per-
sons.
Taking it in the first sense, it means
the place of residence of the Holy
Father, with his officials. This place
is not limited exactly to the house in
which the Pope resides, but has a GER
tain extension, which is regularly for
ty miles, and at times is made to in
clude places within radius of one
hundred miles of the place where the
Pope is. Wherever the Vicar of Christ
resides, there is the Curia, this hold
ing even though the Holy Father re-
moves his residence from Rome. TAX
ing the word in the other sense in
which tits used in the Church at the
present time, we must bear in mind
that the Pope may be considered as
the Vicar of Christ, as the Patriarch
of the West, as the Bishop of Rome,
and as a temporal sovereign. In all of
these offices, he is assisted by certain
officials. Those thus assisting him
form what is known as his Curia.
However, in the decree of Plus X,
the term Curia is applied especially to
those who assist him in the govern
ment of the universal Christ. Al
though thus limited, this decree COW
ers vast field as we shall realize as
we proceed in considering it.
In reading through the decree, we
note that there is mention of three
kinds of bodies, which are established
to assist in the government of the
Church. These are known as congre-
cations, tribunals and offices. How
ever, before proceeding to a considera-
ton of each of these in particular, let
us pause and see what methods were
in vogue from the early ages for the
handling of the affairs that came I'M