- Jan 12, 2023
- 151
Office of the Secretary of State of His Holiness
The Office of the secretariat of state is broken down into two Sections:
Section of General Affairs:
The Section for General Affairs handles the normal operations of the Church including organizing the activities of the Roman Curia, making appointments to curial offices, publishing official communications, papal documents, handling the concerns of embassies to the Holy See, and keeping the papal seal and Fisherman's Ring. Abroad, the Section for General Affairs is responsible for organizing the activities of nuncios around the world in their activities concerning the local church.
Section of Relations with States:
The Section is responsible for the Holy See's interactions with civil governments. According to the relevant articles of the apostolic constitution Pastor Bonus, the Secretary for Relations with States has the responsibility for the Holy See's diplomatic relations with states, including the establishment of concordats or similar agreements; the Holy See's presence in international organizations and conferences such as the United Nations; in special circumstances, by order of the Supreme Pontiff and in consultation with the competent dicasteries of the Curia, provides for appointments to particular Churches, and for their establishment or modification; to operate in close collaboration with the Regional and Rite Patriarchs, it attends to the appointment of bishops in countries which have entered into treaties or agreements with the Holy See in accordance with the norms of international law.
Hierarchy of the Secretariat of State:
Cardinal Secretary of State: Raymond Cardinal Burke, Cardinal Deacon of Sant'Agata de' Goti
Substitute for General Affairs: Leonardo Sandri, Titular Archbishop of Aemona
Assessor for General Affairs: Pedro López Quintana, Titular Archbishop of Acropolis
Secretary for Relations with States: Jean-Louis Tauran, Titular Archbishop of Telephte
Undersecretary of Relations with States: Celestino Migliore, Titular Archbishop of Canosa
The Office of the secretariat of state is broken down into two Sections:
Section of General Affairs:
The Section for General Affairs handles the normal operations of the Church including organizing the activities of the Roman Curia, making appointments to curial offices, publishing official communications, papal documents, handling the concerns of embassies to the Holy See, and keeping the papal seal and Fisherman's Ring. Abroad, the Section for General Affairs is responsible for organizing the activities of nuncios around the world in their activities concerning the local church.
Section of Relations with States:
The Section is responsible for the Holy See's interactions with civil governments. According to the relevant articles of the apostolic constitution Pastor Bonus, the Secretary for Relations with States has the responsibility for the Holy See's diplomatic relations with states, including the establishment of concordats or similar agreements; the Holy See's presence in international organizations and conferences such as the United Nations; in special circumstances, by order of the Supreme Pontiff and in consultation with the competent dicasteries of the Curia, provides for appointments to particular Churches, and for their establishment or modification; to operate in close collaboration with the Regional and Rite Patriarchs, it attends to the appointment of bishops in countries which have entered into treaties or agreements with the Holy See in accordance with the norms of international law.
Hierarchy of the Secretariat of State:
Cardinal Secretary of State: Raymond Cardinal Burke, Cardinal Deacon of Sant'Agata de' Goti
Substitute for General Affairs: Leonardo Sandri, Titular Archbishop of Aemona
Assessor for General Affairs: Pedro López Quintana, Titular Archbishop of Acropolis
Secretary for Relations with States: Jean-Louis Tauran, Titular Archbishop of Telephte
Undersecretary of Relations with States: Celestino Migliore, Titular Archbishop of Canosa
