A new Dicastery for Integral Human Development

In today's edition of L'Osservatore Romano, the Holy Father's Motu Proprio establishing a new Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, along with the relevant Statutes was published.  These documents were approved by the Holy Father, Pope Francis on August 17 of this year, at the suggestion of the Council of Cardinals.

As of January 1, 2017, this new Dicastery will combine the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Workers.  As of that date, these four Pontifical Councils will cease to exist and their duties will be suppressed, and Articles 142-153 of the Constitution Pastor Bonus will be abrogated.

One section of the new Dicastery expresses in a special way the care of the Pope for refugees and for migrants.  In fact, there cannot exist today a service toward integral human development without paying particular attention to the phenomenon of migration.  For this reason, this section will be placed ad tempus (for the time being) directly subject to the guidance of the Supreme Pontiff (cf Statutes, Article 1, §4).

The Holy Father has appointed His Eminence, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, currently serving as the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace as the Prefect of this new Dicastery.

Apostolic Letter - Humanam Progressionem

issued Motu Proprio by the Supreme Pontiff

Francis

instituting the

Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

In all her being and actions, the Church is called to promote the integral development of the human person in the light of the Gospel. This development takes place by attending to the inestimable goods of justice, peace, and the care of creation. The Successor of the Apostle Peter, in his work of affirming these values, is continuously adapting the institutions which collaborate with him, so that they may better meet the needs of the men and women whom they are called to serve.

So that the Holy See may be solicitous in these areas, as well as in those regarding health and charitable works, I institute the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. This Dicastery will be competent particularly in issues regarding migrants, those in need, the sick, the excluded and marginalized, the imprisoned and the unemployed, as well as victims of armed conflict, natural disasters, and all forms of slavery and torture.

In the new Dicastery, governed by the Statutes that today I approve ad experimentum, the competences of the following Pontifical Councils will be merged, as of 1 January 2017: the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, and the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. On that date these four Dicasteries will cease exercising their functions and will be suppressed, and articles 142-153 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus will be abrogated.

I decree that what has been set out in this Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio have the force of law, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, even if worthy of special mention, and that it be promulgated by publication in L’Osservatore Romano, therefore published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, entering into force on 1 January 2017.

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 17 August 2016, the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Fourth Year of my Pontificate.

Francis