Pontificium Consilium de Cultura | |
| Successor | Dicastery for Culture and Education |
|---|---|
| Established | 20 May 1982 (1982-05-20) |
| Founder | Pope John Paul II |
| Founded at | Vatican City |
| Dissolved | 5 June 2022 (2022-06-05) |
| Merger of | Pontifical Council for Dialogue with non-Believers |
| Purpose | to promote dialogue with other cultures to promote the study of unbelief and of religious indifference |
Parent organization | Roman Curia |
| Website | www |
| [1][2][3] | |
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ThePontifical Council for Culture (Latin:Pontificium Consilium de Cultura) was adicastery of theRoman Curia charged with fostering the relationship of the Catholic Church with different cultures. It was erected byPope John Paul II on 20 May 1982,[1] in 1993 he merged thePontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers, which had operated independently since 1965 into it[2] and in 2012Pope Benedict XVI incorporated thePontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church (erected in 1988, but heir of the Pontifical Commission forreligious art, created in 1924) info it. When the Apostolic constitutionPraedicate evangelium promulgated byPope Francis took effect on 5 June 2022, the Pontifical Council for Culture was merged with theCongregation for Catholic Education to create the newDicastery for Culture and Education.[3]
Following on the emphasis placed by theSecond Vatican Council[4] and byPope Paul VI[5] on the importance of culture for the full development of the human person, the Pontifical Council was established to foster the relationship between the Gospel and cultures, and to study the phenomenon ofindifference in matters ofreligion. It also fosters relationships between theHoly See and exponents of the world of culture and promotes dialogue with the various contemporary cultures.[2][6]
The Council has two sections: the Faith and Culture section concentrates on the work the Council did before the Council for Non-Believers was merged with it, while the Dialogue with Cultures section continues the work of the latter Council,[2] establishing dialogue with those who do not believe in God or profess no religion, but who are open to genuine cooperation.[2]
The Council cooperates withepiscopal conferences, universities and international organizations such asUNESCO with regard to its field of interest.[citation needed]
The permanent staff at the Council's headquarters consists of little more than a dozen people, including the President (currentlyGianfranco Ravasi, the Secretary and the Under-Secretary. The Council has a slightly larger number of members, who are usually cardinals and bishops appointed by the Pope for five-year terms, who come together for the three-yearly plenary assemblies to evaluate the day-to-day running of the Council and to consider matters of special importance. The Pope also appoints consultors, who are yet more numerous (priests, religious, and laity predominate in this group), who can be called on at any time for advice and assistance.[7]
Under the Council's patronage,Liana Marabini launched the International Catholic Film Festival known as "Mirabile Dictu", an independent film festival to promote films covering Roman Catholic topics. The event has been held annually since 2010 in Rome.[8][9]
The Council organized the Vatican participation in the Venice Biennale in May 2013. Instead of restricting itself to religious art, it asked artists to produce works on the theme "Creation, De-Creation and Re-Creation" in order to "create an atmosphere of dialogue between art and faith". Artists includedStudio Azzurro, a Milan-based art collective that produces interactive videos, Czech photographerJosef Koudelka, and abstract painterLawrence Carroll.[10]
On 19 December 2015,Paul Tighe was appointed the Council's first Adjunct Secretary.[11]
In March 2017, the Council announced the creation of a Feminine Consultation within he Pontifical Council for Culture, with 37 women chosen from a mix of nationalities, religions, professions, political views, and marital status. Ravasi said: "the function of these women is a real function, they are called to express judgments; they have already criticized me on some proposals and have put forward others! For instance, in connection with the forthcoming Plenary Assembly of the dicastery, on neuroscience, artificial intelligence, genetics, robotics, information technology, etc. on all these issues these women have expressed–as scientists and as women–judgments that we would be unable to formulate."[12][13]
With the Cura Foundation, the Science Theology and the Ontological Quest, and the Stem for Life Foundation, the Council sponsored the Unite to Cure Conference, which met 26–28 April 2018. Under the heading "How Science, Technology and 21st-Century Medicine Will Impact Culture and Society", scientists, government officials, philanthropists, ethicists and faith leaders discussed advances in medical technology and environmental protection and their implications for religion and society.[14]
The Council is also responsible for theVatican Cricket Team.[15]
