A pontifical academy is an academic honorary society established by or under the direction of the Holy See. Some were in existence well before they were accepted as "Pontifical." Currently there are eleven Pontifical academies at the Vatican in Rome, in the following areas:
Name (Area) | Founded | Task |
---|---|---|
Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon | 1542 | To study, cultivate, and perfect the fine arts |
Sciences | 1603 | To honor and promote research |
Theology | 1718, 1956 | promotes the authentic Catholic faith |
Archaeology | 1810 | Promotes Christian archeology and the history of Christian art |
Martyrs | 1879 | Promotes the veneration of the martyrs and the study of the catacombs |
St. Thomas Aquinas | 1879 | Promotes the study of Thomism |
Mary | 1946 | Promotes Mariology |
Life | 1994 | Promote and defend life; headed formerly by Bishop Elio Sgreccia, and now by Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, former rector of the Pontifical Lateran University. |
Social Sciences | 1994 | Promotes social, economic, political, and legal sciences in the light of the church's social teachings |
Latin | 2012 | Promotes the dissemination and education of Latin. |
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, a prestigious institution which is headed by a Titular Archbishop and is charged with training the Catholic clergy who will serve as Apostolic Nuncios, Pro-Nuncios, or Papal Delegates (in other words, Papal Ambassadors, and lesser diplomats) is not one of the Pontifical Academies, but is one of the Roman Colleges.
Famous quotes containing the word academy:
“The academy is not paradise. But learning is a place where paradise can be created.”
—bell hooks (b. c. 1955)