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A dicastery (from Greek: δικαστήριον, romanized: dikastērion, lit. 'law-court', from δικαστής, 'judge, juror') is a department of the Roman Curia, the administration of the Holy See through which the pope governs the Catholic Church.

Pastor bonus

The most recent comprehensive constitution of the church, Pastor bonus (1988), includes this definition:

By the word "dicasteries" are understood the Secretariat of State, Congregations, Tribunals, Councils and Offices, namely, the Apostolic Camera, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.^[1]

Praedicate Evangelium

Under the new structure of the roman curia created by Praedicate Evangelium (effective on 5 June 2022) the former titles of Congregations and Pontifical Councils are replaced with the term Dicastery.

Dicasteries of the Roman Curia

These dicasteries or departments are grouped in the following categories:

• Secretariats:
  • Secretariat of State (or Papal Secretariat)
  • Secretariat for the Economy
• Congregations, headed by a prefect, who is most frequently a cardinal:
  • Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
  • Congregation for the Oriental Churches
  • Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
  • Congregation for the Causes of Saints
  • Congregation for Bishops
  • Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
  • Congregation for the Clergy
  • Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
  • Congregation for Catholic Education (for seminaries and educational institutions)
• Dicasteries:
  • Dicastery for Communications
  • Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life
  • Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
• Tribunals:
  • Apostolic Penitentiary
  • Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
  • Tribunal of the Roman Rota
• Pontifical councils:
  • Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
  • Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts
  • Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
  • Pontifical Council for Culture
  • Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization
• Offices:
  • Apostolic Camera, headed by the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church
  • Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See
  • Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See