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the holy see post-synodal apostolic exhortation ecclesia in america of the holy father john paul ii to the bishops, priests and deacons, men and women religious, and all the lay faithful on the encounter with the living jesus christ: the way to conversion, communion and solidarity in america introduction 1.
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Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church, which is led by the pope as the bishop of Rome. The word see comes from the Latin sedes, meaning “seat,” which refers to the episcopal chair occupied by a bishop and the area over which he has responsibility. As the preeminent episcopal jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church, the Holy See fo...
The Holy See’s administration is a top-down bureaucracy run by the Roman Curia, a group of dicasteries (also known as departments), congregations, and councils with specific functions and responsibilities relating to church matters such as liturgy and worship, religious education, missionary activities, doctrine of the faith, or bishops and clergy. This administrative structure is often likened to a president and prime minister system, with the pope serving as president or head of state and the cardinal secretary of state serving as prime minister or head of government.
The cardinal secretary of state administers the Secretariat of State, which oversees both internal church operations and external diplomatic relations. These sets of oversight are divided into three sections known as General Affairs (formerly called ordinary), Relations with States (formerly called extraordinary), and Diplomatic Staff of the Holy See. These are run by Vatican officials, known as substitutes (from the Italian sostituto), who are of archbishop rank. Responsibilities of the General Affairs section include regulating the duties and activities of the Roman Curia, including enacting promotions, and supervising the Holy See’s official communications agencies and publications. The General Affairs section also keeps custody of church documents and ceremonial items such as the pope’s bulla (lead seal) and Fisherman’s Ring, which are used to sign and seal papal briefs. The Relations with States section oversees papal diplomatic services, including the Holy See’s establishment of concordats, or treaties, with other states and its representation in international organizations. Established in 2017 by Pope Francis, the Diplomatic Staff of the Holy See section deals exclusively with matters relating to the staff who work in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, such as working conditions and career advancement.
As an independent sovereignty, the Holy See is recognized by international law and maintains diplomatic relations with other independent states. Its enduring authority regardless of the presence of a sitting pope and beyond the physical limits of the Vatican City state is an important distinction of its special sovereignty compared with traditional world governments.
The Holy See’s membership in international organizations includes the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and observer status in the World Health Organization, the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations (UN). Its permanent observer status at the UN allows the Holy See to participate in General Assembly and Security Council meetings and debates, vote on procedures, and co-sponsor draft resolutions, but it may not vote on the passage of resolutions, ostensibly preserving the Holy See’s neutrality and universal moral authority.
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The term Holy See is often used interchangeably with the Vatican, though the latter may also refer to the papal palace or the city-state itself. However, as a spiritual authority, the Holy See predates the establishment of both Vatican City and the Vatican Palace; tradition holds that it began in early Christian times with the primacy of St. Peter, who is considered by Catholics to be the church’s first pope.
The location of the Holy See in Rome dates to the foundation of a church by the Roman emperor Constantine I in the 4th century. Dedicated to St. Peter, the church was built near a cemetery on a hill known as Mons Vaticanus (Latin) or Colle Vaticano (Italian), where Christians believed St. Peter had been buried. This territorial identification between the Holy See and Rome lasted until 1870, when the Papal States were disbanded upon the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy. The fascist Italian government’s Lateran Treaty of 1929 granted the Roman Catholic Church independent sovereignty of 44 hectares (109 acres) of land, centring on St. Peter’s Basilica, which became known as the Vatican City state. However, between 1870 and 1929, the Holy See’s authority was not nullified by the absence of a temporal seat of government.
The term Holy See comes from the Latin Sancta Sedes, meaning “Holy Chair,” and originates from the enthronement ceremony of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Strictly speaking, the cathedra, i.e. the chair or throne, represents the position and authority of the Holy Father or a bishop, and the place where he resides in the territory of his ...
Here the Holy See refers to the "seat of government" of the universal Church. Geographically, this seat of government is located in the Diocese of Rome. In terms of actual governance, the Holy See refers specifically to the position of the Holy Father, who "by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, namely, and as pastor of the entire Church ...
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The primary and essential object of catechesis is, to use an expression dear to St. Paul and also to contemporary theology, "the mystery of Christ." Catechizing is in a way to lead a person to study this mystery in all its dimensions: "to make all men see what is the plan of the
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Jul 10, 2002 · The Holy See is also interchangeable with the term “Apostolic See.” The Code of Canon Law provides the following definition: “The term ‘Apostolic See’ or ‘Holy See’ applies not only to the Roman Pontiff but also to the Secretariat of State, the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church, and other institutions of the Roman Curia, unless the nature of the matter or the context ...
The Holy See APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II TO THE BISHOPS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Chicago Friday, 5 October 1979 Dear Brothers in our Lord Jesus Christ, 1. May I tell you very simply how grateful I am to you for your invitation to come to the United States.
