Dicastery for the Causes of Saints
In the Catholic Church, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, previously named the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (Latin: Congregatio de Causis Sanctorum), is the dicastery of the Roman Curia that oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification. After preparing a case, including the approval of miracles, the case is presented to the pope, who decides whether or not to proceed with beatification or canonization.
Dicastery overview
22 January 1588
- Sacred Congregation of Rites
- Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Palazzo delle Congregazioni, Piazza Pio XII, Rome, Italy
- Marcello Semeraro,
Prefect - Fabio Fabene,
Secretary - P. Bogusław Stanisław Turek,
Under-Secretary - Alberto Royo Mejía,
Promoter of the Faith - Angelo Romano,
Relator General
History[edit]
The predecessor of the congregation was the Sacred Congregation for Rites, founded by Pope Sixtus V on 22 January 1588 in the bull Immensa aeterni Dei.[1] The congregation dealt both with regulating divine worship and the causes of saints.[2]
On 8 May 1969, Pope Paul VI issued the apostolic constitution Sacra Rituum Congregatio, dividing it into two congregations, the Congregation for the Divine Worship and one for the causes of saints. The latter was given three offices, those of the judiciary, the Promoter General of the Faith, and the historical-juridical.[1]
With the changes in the canonization process introduced by Pope John Paul II in 1983, a College of Relators was added to prepare the cases of those declared as Servants of God.[1] In January 2014, the Prefect of the Congregation announced that at the direction of Pope Francis those working on canonizations must adhere to financial guidelines to eliminate unfairness in the treatment of cases based on the financial resources provided.[3] According to L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis hoped to promote the causes of those less well-known, those from poorer regions, and those who were victims of 20th-century totalitarian persecutions.[4]
The former Prefect, Cardinal Giovanni Becciu, resigned on 24 September 2020, and was promptly succeeded on 15 October by Bishop Marcello Semeraro.[5] Since 18 January 2021, Archbishop Fabio Fabene has been Secretary and Bogusław Turek has been Under-Secretary.[6] The current Promoter of the Faith (Prelate Theologian) is Carmelo Pellegrino, formerly a Relator in the Congregation.[7]
Prefect of Congregation for the Causes of Saints
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the : Beccari, Camillo (1907). "Beatification and Canonization". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
