Congregation (Roman Curia)

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In the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church, a congregation (Latin: Sacræ Cardinalium Congregationes) was a type of department. They were second-highest-ranking departments, ranking below the two Secretariats, and above the pontifical councils, pontifical commissions, tribunals and offices.^[1]

Originally, congregations were select groups of cardinals drawn from the College of Cardinals, commissioned to take care of some field of activity that concerned the Holy See. After the Second Vatican Council, members included diocesan bishops from diverse parts of the world who are not cardinals. Each congregation also had a permanent staff.

Each congregation was led by a prefect, who is usually a cardinal.^[2] A non-cardinal appointed to head a congregation was styled pro-prefect until made a cardinal. This practice was later abandoned.

Under the reforms of Pope Francis, the congregations were each turned into what are now known as dicasteries.