The Roman Curia

The present norms regarding the Roman Curia were publicly announced June 28, 1988, In the Pastor Bonus Constitutio Apostolica de Romana Curia, and published in A.A.S. LXXX/1988, Commentarium Officiale; pp.841934. The Supreme Pontiff usually conducts business of the universal Church by means of the Roman Curia, which fulfills its duty in his name and by his authority for the good and the service of the Churches; it consists of the Secretariat of State or the Papal Secretariat, congregations, tribunals and other institutions, whose structure and competency are defined in special law (can. 360). The Roman curia is the complex of departments and institutes which assist the Roman Pontiff in the exercise of his supreme pastoral function for the good and service of the universal Church and of the particular churches, by which the unity of faith and communion of the people of God is strengthened and the mission is promoted which is proper to the Church in the world.