Acuria is an official body that governs an entity within theCatholic Church. These curias range from the relatively simplediocesan curia; to the larger patriarchal curias; to the curia of variousCatholic particular churches; to theRoman Curia, which is the central government of the Catholic Church. Other Catholic bodies, such asreligious institutes, may also have curias.
These curias are historically descended from the RomanCuriae, and they keep that name even though they now have very different functions. When theRoman Empire collapsed, many of the administrative functions previously done by the state were subsumed by the only solid institution left, which was the church. TheBishop and curia took the place of the government officials, often to the point of sitting at the same chair in the same building. The Curia therefore passed into religious hands, and afterwards changed functions many times but always keeping its traditional name, at least in those Christian denominations that keep a strong continuity with theApostolic tradition.
Everydiocese andeparchy has a curia, consisting of the chief officials of the diocese. These officials assist the diocesanbishop in governing theparticular church.
This diocesan curia includes thevicar general, who is normally also themoderator of the curia, anyepiscopal vicars, thechancellor of the curia, vice-chancellors andnotaries, and a finance officer and financial council. The bishop may also add other officials of his choice.[1]
Patriarchates and Major Archiepiscopates of theEastern Catholic Churches have an assembly called the Patriarchal Curia, which assists thepatriarch ormajor archbishop in administering thesui juris church. The patriarchal curia is distinct from the diocesan or eparchial curia of the patriarch or major archbishop's diocese or eparchy.
The patriarchal curia consists of the permanentsynod of the Church, the chancellor, assistant chancellor, and notaries, the patriarchal finance officer, the patriarchal liturgical commission and other patriarchal commissions, and the patriarchal tribunal.[2] Up to three bishops may be elected specifically to serve in the patriarchal curia.[3]
The administrative unit of theHoly See is called theRoman Curia, which assists thePope in governing the Catholic Church.[4] The Roman Curia includes the Secretariats, theCurial Congregations, thePontifical Councils,Pontifical Commissions, thetribunals, and other offices.
