Benedict XVI: New motu proprios affect seminaries, catechesis
(Vatican Radio) In separate Apostolic Letters issued on Friday, Pope Benedict XVI
placed the direction of seminaries under the competence of the Congregation for the
Clergy, and the mission of overseeing catechesis in the purview of the Pontifical
Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation. The Letters were issued “motu
proprio,” that is, at the Pope’s own initiative.
The move re-organises the
areas of responsibility within the Roman Curia, “the complex of dicasteries and institutes
which help the Roman Pontiff in the exercise of his supreme pastoral office for the
good and service of the whole Church and of the particular Churches” (Pastor bonus,
art. 1).
The changes made today were announced by the Holy Father last October
at the conclusion of the work of the General Synod of Bishops. At the time, the Holy
Father explained: “In the context of the Synod of Bishops’ reflections on ‘The New
Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith’ and by way of concluding
a path of reflection on the topics of seminaries and catechesis, I am pleased to announce
that I have decided, after prayer and due reflection, to transfer the supervision
of seminaries from the Congregation for Catholic Education to the Congregation for
the Clergy and the supervision of catechesis from the Congregation for the Clergy
to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization . . . We pray
that the Lord will accompany the three dicasteries of the Roman Curia in their important
mission with the assistance of the whole Church” (Address of Pope Benedict XVI during
the final general congregation of the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod
of Bishops).
The provisions of the two Apostolic Letters will go into effect
fifteen days after their promulgation in L’Osservatore Romano.