Pastor Bonus

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Pastor Bonus ("Good Shepherd" in Latin) is an Apostolic Constitution promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 28 June 1988. It instituted a number of reforms in the process of running the central government of the Roman Catholic Church, as article 1 states "The Roman Curia is 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. It thus strengthens the unity of the faith and the communion of the people of God and promotes the mission proper to the Church in the world".

Background

Johannes Paul II

Pastor Bonus laid out in considerable detail the organization of the Roman Curia, specifying precisely the names and composition of each dicastery, and enumerating which competencies, or responsibilities, each dicastery was charged with overseeing. It replaced the previous governing document, Regimini Ecclesiæ universæ, which was released by Paul VI in 1967.^[1]

It delineated the roles of the Secretariat of State, Congregations, Tribunals, Pontifical Councils, Administrative Services and Pontifical Commissions of the Roman Curia. It also established the norms for the Ad limina visits of bishops to Rome and the relationship between the Holy See and the particular Churches and episcopal conferences.

Changes

Among the changes formulated in the constitution was the re-integration of the Council for Public Affairs of the Church into the Secretariat of State as the Section for Relations with States (the Second Section). The Council for Public Affairs of the Church had previously been a section of the Secretariat of State, but was made an independent dicastery by Pope Paul VI in 1967.^[2]

The constitution also opened membership in dicasteries to collegiality at the Second Vatican Council. Pastor Bonus continued the opening of the central government of the church by allowing representatives of all the faithful to have a role in the Roman Curia.

Modifications

Francis (2013) and Benedict XVI (2008)

In the Apostolic Letter Ministrorum institutio of 16 January 2013, Pope Benedict XVI transferred the governance of seminaries from the “Congregation for Catholic Education” to the “Congregation for the Clergy”.^[3] On the same day the Apostolic Letter Fides per doctrinam transferred the competence of Catechesis from the “Congregation for Clergy” to the “Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization”.^[4]

In October 2013, Pope Francis and his Council of Cardinals were reviewing Pastor Bonus for possible further revisions.^[5] On 24 February 2014, Pope Francis issued the Apostolic Letter Fidelis Dispensator et Prudens establishing the Council for the Economy as an entity having oversight for the administrative and financial structures and activities of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the institutions linked to the Holy See, and the Vatican City State. It also established a Secretariat for the Economy as a dicastery of the Roman Curia.^[6]

References

1. ^ , 2 October 2013National Catholic RegisterAkin, Jimmy. "Is Pope Francis about to “rip up” the Vatican constitution? 12 things to know and share",
2. ^ "Secretariat of State: Profile". The  
3. ^ , NEW.VA, 16 January 2013Ministrorum institutioPope Benedict XVI, ''
4. ^ , NEWS.VA, 16 January 2013Fides per doctrinamPope Benedict XVI,
5. ^ MacDonald, Sarah. "Council of Cardinals signals major changes to Pastor Bonus", CatholicIreland.net, October 4, 2013
6. ^ , Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 24 February 2014Fidelis Dispensator et PrudensPope Francis, ''

External links

• Original text (Latin)
• Full text, translated to English by Francis C.C.F. Kelly, James H. Provost, and Michel Thériault and revised by Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Secretariat of State, and authorized by the Secretariat of State.
• Wooden, Cindy. "Changing needs, changing names: Reform of Curia is Vatican tradition", Catholic New Service, 13 July 2014

Pope Saint John Paul II Born Karol Józef Wojtyła, 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005 Pope (1978–2005) Archbishop of Kraków (1963–1978) Timeline Emilia Wojtyła (mother) Karol Wojtyła (father) Early life Papal conclave Assassination attempt Funeral dignitaries Beatification and Canonisation Acts as Pope Apologies Cardinals created People venerated People beatified Saints canonized Papal mediation in the Beagle conflict Pastoral visits Ireland Nicaragua United Kingdom World Day of the Sick World Youth Day Relations Eastern Orthodox Church Judaism Other topics Abbà Pater Criticism Family home (historic house) Health John Paul II Foundation Monuments Tiara   Bibliography Teachings Apostolic constitutions Sacrae Disciplinae Leges Pastor Bonus Ex Corde Ecclesiae Fidei depositum Universi Dominici gregis Apostolic exhortations Catechesi tradendae Familiaris consortio Reconciliatio et paenitentia Christifideles laici Redemptoris custos Pastores dabo vobis Ecclesia in America Ecclesia in Asia Ecclesiastical letters Dominicae Cenae Ordinatio Sacerdotalis Letter to Women Ad tuendam fidem Novo Millennio Ineunte Misericordia Dei Rosarium Virginis Mariae Encyclicals Redemptor hominis Dives in misericordia Laborem exercens Slavorum Apostoli Dominum et vivificantem Redemptoris Mater Sollicitudo rei socialis Redemptoris Missio Centesimus annus Veritatis splendor Evangelium vitae Ut Unum Sint Fides et Ratio Ecclesia de Eucharistia Books Love and Responsibility Crossing the Threshold of Hope Memory and Identity Other writings The Jeweler's Shop Theology of the Body "Roman Triptych" Testament Documents endorsed Catechism of the Catholic Church Quattuor Abhinc Annos We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah Dominus Iesus Related Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah Political views Scriptural Way of the Cross   Eponymous places In popular culture High schools (United States) East Boca Raton, FL Tallahassee, FL Jasper, IN Slidell, LA Hyannis, MA Royersford, PA Hendersonville, TN Corpus Christi, TX Plano, TX Schertz, TX Dumfries, VA Lacey, WA Other high schools London, Canada Toronto, Canada Greymouth, New Zealand Rotorua, New Zealand Tarnów, Poland Brasília, Brazil Colleges Universities John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin John Paul II Institute John Paul II Minor Seminary John Paul the Great Catholic University Pontifical University of John Paul II Pope John Paul II College of Education Airports Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport João Paulo II Airport John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice Bridges El Puente del Papa John Paul II Bridge, Puławy Juan Pablo II Bridge Third Millennium John Paul II Bridge Other places Saint John Paul II National Shrine Ioannes Paulus II Peninsula John Paul II Catholic School John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization John Paul II Foundation for Research and Treatment Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński Museum of John Paul II Collection Pope John Paul II Park Reservation Films Pope John Paul II The Papal Chase Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II The Pope's Toilet Nine Days that Changed the World TV miniseries Pope John Paul II Karol: A Man Who Became Pope Karol: The Pope, The Man In Search of the Pope's Children Other media The Planet Is Alive...Let it Live! Red Rabbit The Pope's Children Credo: John Paul II Book