Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

History

• 1542.07.21: Established as Commission of Roman and Universal Inquisition (English) / Sacrée Congrégation de l’Inquisition romaine et universelle (français) / Commissione di Santa Romana e Univerale Inquisizione (Italiano) / 羅馬和世界宗教裁判委員會 (正體中文)
• 1908.06.29: Promoted as Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office (English) / Oberste Hl. Kongregation des Heiligen Offiziums (Deutsch) / Suprema Sagrada Congregacíon del Santo Oficio (español) / Suprême Sacrée Congrégation du Saint-Office (français) / Suprema Sacra Congregazione del Sant’Ufficizio (Italiano) / Świętym Oficjum (polski) / Suprema Sagrada Congregação do Santo Ofício (Português) / Suprema Sacra Congregatio de Sancti Officii (latine)
• 1916: Merged with the suppressed Sacred Congregation of the Index
• 1965.12.07: Renamed as Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (English) / Hl. Kongregation für die Glaubenslehre (Deutsch) / Sacrée Congrégation pour la doctrine de la foi (français) / Sacra Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede (Italiano) / S. Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei (latine)
• 1984: Renamed as Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (English) / Kongregation für die Glaubenslehre (Deutsch) / Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe (español) / Congrégation pour la doctrine de la foi (français) / Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede (Italiano) / Kongregacja Nauki Wiary (Kongregacja Doktryny Wiary) (polski) / 教義部 (中文) / 教理省 (日本語) / 신앙교리성 (한국어) / Congregação para a Doutrina da Fé (Português) / Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei (latine)
• 2019.01.17: Merged with the suppressed Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”
• 2022.06.05: Promoted as Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (English) / Dikasterium für die Glaubenslehre (Deutsch) / Dicasterio para la Doctrina de la Fe (español) / Dicastère pour la doctrine de la foi (français) / Dicastero per la Dottrina della Fede (Italiano) / Dykasteria Nauki Wiary (polski) / Dicastério para a Doutrina da Fé (Português) / 教義部 (中文) / 教理省 (日本語) / 신앙교리성 (한국어) / Dicasterium pro Doctrina Fidei (latine)

Documents: (x 186)

Associated Organizations

• Pontifical Biblical Commission
• International Theological Commission
• College for the review of appeals by clergy accused of delicta reservata
• Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors

Present Officials

Prefect (2023.07.01 – ...):	Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández (63) Cardinal-Deacon of Ss. Urbano e Lorenzo a Prima Porta President of Pontifical Biblical Commission President of International Theological Commission Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of La Plata (Argentina)
Adjunct Secretary (2018.11.13 – ...):	Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna (66) Metropolitan Archbishop of Malta (Malta) President of College for the review of appeals by clergy accused of delicta reservata President of Episcopal Conference of Malta
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section (2022.04.23 – ...):	Msgr. Armando Matteo (55) Priest of Catanzaro–Squillace (Italy) Chaplain of His Holiness
Secretary for the Disciplinary Section (2022.04.23 – ...):	Archbishop John Joseph Kennedy (57) Titular Archbishop of Osor
Undersecretary (2022.07.06 – ...):	Bishop Philippe Curbelié (57) Titular Bishop of Utica
Promoter of Justice (2014.09.10 – ...):	Fr. Robert Joseph Geisinger, S.J. (66)
Bureau Chief (2019.03.04 – ...):	Msgr. Riccardo Bollati, F.S.C.B. (63) Prelate of Honour of His Holiness
Bureau Chief (2019.03.30 – ...):	Msgr. Patrick Descourtieux (67) Prelate of Honour of His Holiness
Bureau Chief (2019.07.03 – ...):	Msgr. Fürnkranz Johannes Priest of Wien (Austria) Chaplain of His Holiness
Bureau Chief (2022.11.08 – ...):	Fr. Francesco Panizzolo, O.F.M. Conv. (48)

Past Officials Prefect: Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J. (81) (2017.07.01 – 2023.07.01) Prefect: Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller (77) (2012.07.02 – 2017.07.01) Prefect: Cardinal William Joseph Levada (2005.05.13 – 2012.07.02) Prefect: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) (1981.11.25 – 2005.04.02) Prefect: Cardinal Franjo Šeper (1968.08.20 – 1981.11.25) Prefect: Saint Pope John XXIII (1958.10.28 – 1963.06.03) Prefect: Pope Pius XII (1939.03.02 – 1958.10.09) Prefect: Pope Pius XI (1922.02.06 – 1939.02.10) Prefect: Pope Benedict XV (1914.09.03 – 1922.01.22) Prefect: Saint Pope Pius X (1903.08.04 – 1914.08.20) Grand Inquisitor: Cardinal Giulio Antonio Santorio (1587 – 1602.05.09) Grand Inquisitor: Cardinal Giacomo Savelli (1577 – 1587.12.05) Grand Inquisitor: Cardinal Scipione Rebiba (1573 – 1577.07.23) Grand Inquisitor: Cardinal Diego Espinosa y Arévalo (1566.09.08 – 1572.09.05) Grand Inquisitor: Cardinal Antonio-Michele Ghislieri, O.P. (later Pope Pius V, Saint) (1558 – 1566.01.07) Grand Inquisitor: Cardinal Gian Pietro Carafa (later Pope Paul IV) (1542.07.21 – 1555.05.23) Pro-Prefect: Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani (1965 – 1968.01.06) Assessor: Archbishop Pietro Parente (later Cardinal) (1959.10.23 – 1965.12.07) Assessor: Archbishop Gabriel Acacius Coussa, B.A. (later Cardinal) (1953.01.15 – 1961.08.04) Assessor: Msgr. Alfredo Ottaviani (later Cardinal) (1935.12.19 – 1953.01.12) Assessor: Msgr. Nicola Canali (later Cardinal) (1926.06.27 – 1935.12.16) Assessor: Msgr. Carlo Perosi (later Cardinal) (1916.12.08 – 1926.06.21) Assessor: Archbishop Donato Sbarretti (later Cardinal) (1914.06.08 – 1916.12.04) Assessor: Archbishop Domenico Serafini, O.S.B. Subl. (later Cardinal) (1911.11.30 – 1914.05.25) Assessor: Msgr. Giovanni Battista Lugari (later Cardinal) (1902.01.11 – 1911.11.27) Assessor: Archbishop Casimiro Gennari (later Cardinal) (1895.11.15 – 1901.04.15) Assessor: Msgr. Francesco Segna (later Cardinal) (1893.06.20 – 1894.05.18) Assessor: Msgr. Raffaele Monaco La Valletta (later Cardinal) (1859.01.25 – 1868.03.13) Assessor: Cardinal Raffaele Mazio (1824.12.28 – 1832.02.04) Secretary: Archbishop Giacomo Morandi (60) (2017.07.18 – 2022.01.10) Secretary: Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J. (81) (later Cardinal) (2008.07.09 – 2017.07.01) Secretary: Archbishop Angelo Amato, S.D.B. (later Cardinal) (2002.12.19 – 2008.07.09) Secretary: Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B. (90) (later Cardinal) (1995.06.13 – 2002.12.10) Secretary: Archbishop Alberto Bovone (later Cardinal) (1984.04.08 – 1995.06.13) Secretary: Archbishop Jean Jérôme Hamer, O.P. (later Cardinal) (1973.06.14 – 1984.04.08) Secretary: Cardinal Paul-Pierre Philippe, O.P. (1967.06.29 – 1973.03.06) Secretary: Archbishop Pietro Parente (later Cardinal) (1965.12.07 – 1967.06.26) Secretary: Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani (1959.11.07 – 1965) Secretary: Cardinal Giuseppe Pizzardo (1951.02.16 – 1959.10.12) Secretary: Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani (1939.04.30 – 1951.01.13) Secretary: Cardinal Donato Sbarretti (1930.07.04 – 1939.04.01) Secretary: Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val y Zulueta (1914.10.14 – 1930.02.26) Secretary: Cardinal Domenico Ferrata (1914.01.02 – 1914.10.10) Secretary: Cardinal Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro (1908.12.30 – 1913.12.16) Secretary: Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli (1903.01.16 – 1908.12.31) Secretary: Cardinal Lucido Maria Parocchi (1896 – 1903.01.15) Secretary: Cardinal Raffaele Monaco La Valletta (1884.02.15 – 1896.07.14) Secretary: Cardinal Luigi Bilio, B. (1883.01.25 – 1884.01.30) Secretary: Cardinal Antonio Maria Panebianco, O.F.M. Conv. (1882.03.30 – 1883.01.25) Secretary: Cardinal Prospero Caterini (1876.12.21 – 1881.10.28) Secretary: Cardinal Costantino Patrizi Naro (1860.10.10 – 1876.12.17) Secretary: Cardinal Vincenzo Macchi (1844.04.25 – 1860.09.30) Secretary: Cardinal Bartolomeo Pacca (1830.04.07 – 1844.04.19?) Secretary: Cardinal Giulio Maria Della Somaglia (1814.05.20 – 1830.04.02) Secretary: Cardinal Leonardo Antonelli (1800.11.08 – 1811.01.23) Secretary: Cardinal Carlo Rezzonico (1777.01.17 – 1799.01.26) Secretary: Cardinal Luigi Maria Torrigiani (1775.02.22 – 1777.01.06) Secretary: Cardinal Giovanni Francesco Stoppani (1770.12.12 – 1774.11.18) Secretary: Cardinal Neri Maria Corsini (1753 – 1770.12.06?) Secretary: Cardinal Tommaso Ruffo (1740.08.29 – 1753.02.16) Secretary: Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni (1726.06.14 – 1740.02.29) Secretary: Cardinal Fabrizio Paolucci (1725 – 1726.06.12) Secretary: Cardinal Francesco del Giudice (1719 – 1725.10.10) Secretary: Cardinal Nicolò Acciaiuoli (1717 – 1719.02.23) Secretary: Cardinal Fabrizio Spada (1716 – 1717.06.15) Secretary: Cardinal Galeazzo Marescotti (1700 – 1716) Secretary: Cardinal Alderano Cibo-Malaspina (1683 – 1700.07.22) Secretary: Cardinal Cesare Facchinetti (1679 – 1683.01.30) Secretary: Cardinal Francesco Barberini (1633 – 1679.12.10) Secretary: Cardinal Antonio Marcello Barberini, O.F.M. Cap. (1629 – 1633) Secretary: Cardinal Giovanni Garzia Millini (1616 – 1629.10.02) Secretary: Cardinal Pompeio Arrigoni (1605 – 1616.04.04) Secretary: Cardinal Camillo Borghese (later Pope Paul V) (1602 – 1605.05.16) Pro-Secretary: Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani (1953.01.15 – 1959.11.07) Adjunct Secretary: Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, O.P. (82) (2013.09.21 – 2023.07.10) Undersecretary: Msgr. Matteo Visioli (2017.09.14 – 2022.07.06) Undersecretary: Msgr. Giacomo Morandi (60) (later Archbishop) (2015.10.27 – 2017.07.18) Undersecretary: Msgr. Damiano Marzotto Caotorta (2009.06.20 – 2015) Undersecretary: Fr. Joseph Augustine Di Noia, O.P. (82) (later Archbishop) (2002.04.04 – 2009.06.16) Undersecretary: Fr. Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv. (88) (later Bishop) (1997.06.11 – 2002.02.16) Undersecretary: Msgr. Jozef Zlatňanský (later Bishop) (1984.12.06 – 1997.06.11) Undersecretary: Archbishop Alberto Bovone (later Cardinal) (1973.05.21 – 1984.05.12) Undersecretary: Msgr. Charles Moeller (1966 – 1973) Adjunct Undersecretary: Msgr. Armando Matteo (55) (2021.04.12 – 2022.04.23) Promoter of Justice: Msgr. Robert W. Oliver (2012.12.22 – 2014.09.10) Promoter of Justice: Msgr. Charles Jude Scicluna (66) (later Archbishop) (2002.10.21 – 2012.10.06) Promoter of Justice: Fr. Marino Maccarelli, O.S.M. (1983 – 1995) Promoter of Justice: Msgr. Sándor Csertõ (1969 – 1982) Promoter of Justice: Msgr. Giuseppe Graneris (1952 – 1968) Promoter of Justice: Msgr. Giosuè Venturi (1950 – 1952) Promoter of Justice: Msgr. Vigilio Dalpiaz (1937 – 1950) Promoter of Justice: Msgr. Giuseppe Latini (1919 – 1937) Adjunct Promoter of Justice: Msgr. Sebastiano Masala (1965 – 1968.12.09) Commissary: Fr. Angelo Raimondo Verardo, O.P. (later Bishop) (1959 – 1965) Commissary: Fr. Paul-Pierre Philippe, O.P. (later Cardinal) (1955 – 1959.12.14) Commissary: Fr. Cristoforo Bigazzi, O.P. (1951 – 1955) Commissary: Fr. Giovanni Lottini, O.P. (1919 – 1951) Commissary: Fr. Domenico Pasqualigo, O.P. (1911? – 1919) Commissary: Archbishop Tommaso Maria Granello, O.P. (1897.10.02 – 1911.03.24) Commissary: Archbishop Vincenzo Leone Sallua, O.P. (1877.03.12 – 1896.12.21) Vice-Commissary: Fr. Domenico Pasqualigo, O.P. (1905 – 1911?) Bureau Chief: Msgr. Alejandro Cifres Giménez (2013.12.04 – 2021.07.28) Bureau Chief: Fr. Hermann Geissler, F.S.O. (2009.08.04 – 2019.01.30) Bureau Chief: Fr. Pedro Miguel Funes Díaz (2009.01.31 – 2017.04.05) Bureau Chief: Msgr. Damiano Marzotto Caotorta (2003.02.13 – 2009.06.20) Bureau Chief: Msgr. Raffaello Martinelli (77) (later Bishop) (1999.01.04 – 2009.07.02)

Last updated on 2025.11.07

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