Fidem Servare

"Keeping the faith" (2 Tim. 4, 7)[[b:2 Tim. 4, 7]] is the principal task and the ultimate criterion to be followed in the life of the Church. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith[d:106] takes on this important task, assuming both doctrinal and disciplinary competence, as attributed to it by my Venerable Predecessors.

Today's configuration of the Congregation was established by Saint Paul VI, who in the Motu Proprio Integrae servandae[3562] changed the name of the Dicastery to "Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith," and by Saint John Paul II, who in the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus[577] specified its competencies.

Now, in view of the experience gained during this time by the Congregarion in various areas of work, and the need to give it an approach more suited to the fulfillment of its functions, I have deemed it appropriate to establish the following.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith comprises two Sections, Doctrinal and Disciplinary, each coordinated by a Secretary who assists the Prefect in the specific area of hls competence, with the collaboration of the Under-Secretary and of the respective Heads of Office.

The Doctrinal Section, through the doctrinal Office, deals with matters pertaining to the promotion and protection of the doctrine of the faith and of morals. It also promotes studies aimed at increasing the understanding and transmission of the faith at the service of evangelization, so that its light may be a criterion for understanding the meaning of life, especially in the face of the questions posed by the progress of the sciences and the development of society.

With regard to faith and morals, the Section arranges for the examination of documents to be published by other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as writings and opinions which appear problematic for right faith, encouraging dialogue with their authors and proposing suitable remedies to be made, according to the norms of Agendi ratione in doctrinarum examine[3504].

To this Section is entrusted the task of studying questions relating to the personal ordinariates instituted by the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus[3232].

To the Doctrinal Section belongs the Matrimonial Office, which has been instituted to examine, both in law and in fact, all that concerns the "privilegium fidei."

The Disciplinary Section, through the disciplinary Office, deals with crimes reserved to the Congregation and dealt with by it through the jurisdiction of the Supreme Apostolic Tribunal[d:78] established there. Its task is to prepare and draw up the procedures foreseen by canonical norms so that the Congregation, in its various instances (Prefect, Secretary, Promoter of Justice, Congress, Ordinary Session, College for the examination of appeals in matters of delicta graviora), may promote a correct administration of justice.

To this end, the Section promotes the appropriate initiatives in formation that the Congregation offers to Ordinaries and to those working in the field of law, in order to encourage a correct understanding and application of the canonical norms relative to its own area of competence.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has a current Archive for the safekeeping and consultation of documents, which also manages the Historical Archives of the former Congregations of the Holy Office and of the Index.

What has been decided by this Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio, I order to have firm and stable effect, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, even if worthy of special mention, and to be promulgated by publication in L'Ossenrvatore Romano, coming into force on 14 February 2022, and then published in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's, on the 11 th day of February in the year 2022, Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes, ninth of my Pontificate.

FRANCIS