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| − | [[Image:holysee-arms.png|thumb|right|The [[coat of arms]] of the Holy See]]
| + | {{Infobox_Contents | |
| − | The '''Holy See''' ([[Latin]]: ''Sancta Sedes'', lit. "holy seat") is the [[episcopal see]] of [[Rome]]. The incumbent of this see is the [[Bishop of Rome]], more commonly referred to as the [[Pope]]. The term '''Holy See''', as used in [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|Canon law]], also refers to the Pope and the [[Roman Curia]]—in effect, the central government of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]—and is the sense more widely used today.
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| | + | subtopics = [[Pope]] | |
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| − | The Holy See is also called the "[[Apostolic See]]", although this name properly refers to any see founded by the [[Apostle]]s and especially to the three original [[patriarch|patriarchal]] sees of [[Rome]] ([[St. Peter]] and [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]]), [[Alexandria]] ([[St. Mark]]) and [[Antioch]] (St. Peter). Later [[Constantinople]], allegedly founded by [[St. Andrew]], and [[Jerusalem]], restored after its period as a pagan city, were also numbered among the [[patriarch|patriarchal]] sees. The five sees were ranked in descending order of precedence: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem. | + | "The Holy See" is a term used to describe the seat of authority of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in Rome under the [[pope]]. |
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| − | Aside from Rome, the [[archbishop|archiepiscopal]] [[Archbishopric of Mainz|See of Mainz]], which was also of [[prince-elector|electoral]] and [[primate (religion)|primatial]] rank, is the only other see referred to as the "Holy See," although this usage is rather less common.
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| − | == Organization of the Holy See == | + | ==Quotes== |
| − | The Pope governs the Church through the [[Roman Curia]]. The Roman Curia consists of the [[Secretariat of State (Vatican)]], nine [[Congregation (Roman Curia)|Congregations]], three [[Ecclesiastical court|Tribunal]]s, 11 [[Pontifical Council]]s, and a complex of offices that administer church affairs at the highest level. The Secretariat of State, under the Cardinal Secretary of State, directs and coordinates the Curia. The current incumbent, [[Angelo Cardinal Sodano]], is the Holy See's equivalent of a prime minister. Archbishop [[Giovanni Lajolo]], Secretary of the [[Section for Relations With States]] of the Secretariat of State acts as the Holy See's foreign minister. Sodano and Lajolo served in their respective roles under [[Pope John Paul II]] and were then reappointed to those same roles by [[Pope Benedict XVI]].
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| − | Among the most active of the major Curial institutions are the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]], which oversees church doctrine; the [[Congregation for Bishops]], which coordinates the appointment of bishops worldwide; the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]], which oversees all missionary activities; and the [[Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace]], which deals with international peace and social issues.
| + | ==Links== |
| | + | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_See Wikipedia - Holy See] |
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| − | Three tribunals are responsible for judicial power. The [[Sacra Rota]] is responsible for normal appeals, including annulments of marriage, with the [[Apostolic Signatura]] being the administrative court of appeal and highest ecclesiastical court. The [[Apostolic Penitentiary]] is different from those two and, instead of dealing with contentious cases, issues absolutions, dispensations, and indulgences.
| + | {{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Denominations]] -> [[Roman Catholicism]] |
| − | | + | [[Category:Catholic Church]] |
| − | The [[Prefecture for Economic Affairs]] coordinates the finances of the Holy See departments and supervises the administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, an investment fund dating back to the [[Lateran Pacts]]. A committee of 15 cardinals, chaired by the Secretary of State, has final oversight authority over all financial matters of the Holy See, including those of the [[Institute for Works of Religion]], the Vatican bank. The [[Prefecture for the Pontifical Household]] is responsible for papal ceremonies and the daily work and life of the Pope.
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| − | Like any episcopal see, the Holy See does not dissolve upon the death or resignation of the reigning Pope. It instead operates under a different set of laws ''[[sede vacante]]''. During this interregnum, the heads of the [[dicasteries]] of the Roman Curia (such as the prefects of congregations) cease to hold office immediately, the only exceptions being the [[Major Penitentiary]], who continues his important role regarding absolutions and dispensations, and the [[Camerlengo|Cardinal Camerlengo]], who administers the temporalities (''i.e.'', properties and finances) of the Holy See during this period. The government of the Holy See (and therefore of the Roman Catholic Church) then falls to the [[College of Cardinals]]. [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|Canon Law]] prohibits the College and the Camerlengo from introducing any innovations or novelties in the government of the Church during this period.
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| − | == Diplomacy of the Holy See ==
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| − | Since medieval times the episcopal see of Rome has been recognized as a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] entity. The Holy See maintains formal diplomatic relations with [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/corpo-diplomatico_index_en.html 174 sovereign states], the [[European Union]], and the [[Order of Malta]]; 69 of these maintain permanent resident diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See in Rome. The rest have missions with dual accreditation outside Italy, as the Holy See does ''not'' accept dual accreditation with an embassy located in Italy. It also has relations of a special nature with [[Russia]] (Mission with an Ambassador) and the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (Office with a Director). The Holy See maintains 179 permanent diplomatic missions abroad (106 of which are accredited to sovereign states). The diplomatic activities of the Holy See are performed by the [[Secretariat of State (Vatican)|Secretariat of State]] (headed by the [[Cardinal Secretary of State]]), through the Section for Relations with States.
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| − | The Holy See is the only [[Europe]]an [[subject of international law]] to formally recognize the [[Republic of China]] (Taiwan). It is the longest lasting diplomatic ally of the ROC, having held official relations since [[1942]]. Talks between the [[People's Republic of China]] and the Holy See on diplomatic recognition have been ongoing, with the main issue the treatment of Chinese Catholics. The PRC government controls a [[Chinese Catholic Association]] which does not recognize the authority of Rome and the PRC has officially banned an underground Catholic Church which does recognize the Holy See's authority.
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| − | === International organizations ===
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| − | The Holy See is especially active in international organizations. The Holy See is a permanent observer in the [[United Nations]], and in July, 2004, gained all the rights of full membership except voting. According to Archbishop [[Celestino Migliore]], Holy See Permanent Observer, "We have no vote because this is our choice." He added that the Holy See considers that its current status "is a fundamental step that does not close any path for the future. The Holy See has the requirements defined by the UN statute to be a member state and, if in the future it wished to be so, this resolution would not impede it from requesting it."
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| − | *[[Organization of American States]] (OAS) in [[Washington, DC|Washington]]
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| − | *[[Organization of African Unity]] (OAU)
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| − | *[[World Tourist Organization]] (WToO)
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| − | *[[World Trade Organization]] (WTO)
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| − | *[[World Health Organization]] (WHO)
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| − | *[[World Food Programme]] (WFP)
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| − | *[[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]] (UNESCO)
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| − | *[[United Nations Environment Programme]] (UNEP)
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| − | *[[United Nations International Drug Control Programme]] (UNDCP)
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| − | *[[United Nations Centre for Human Settlements]] (UNCHS)
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| − | *[[Latin Union]] (LU)
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| − | *[[International Organization for Migration]] (IOM)
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| − | *[[International Labour Organization]] (ILO)
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| − | *[[International Fund for Agricultural Development]] (IFAD)
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| − | *[[United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO).
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| − | The Holy See is also an observer on an informal basis of the following groups:
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| − | *[[World Meteorological Organization]] in [[Geneva]] (WMO)
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| − | *[[United Nations Committee of Peaceful Use of Outer Space]] (UNCOPUOS)
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| − | *[[International Strategy for Disaster Reduction]] (ISDR)
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| − | *[[International Maritime Organization]] (IMO)
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| − | *[[African Asian Legal Consultative Committee]] (AALCC)
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| − | *[[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO)
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| − | The Holy See is a member of the following groups:
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| − | *[[Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (OPCW)
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| − | *[[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]] (OSCE)
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| − | *[[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU)
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| − | *[[International Telecommunication Satellite Organization]] (ITSO)
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| − | *[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] (WIPO)
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| − | *[[Universal Postal Union]] (UPU), [[International Institute for the Unification of Private Law]] (UNIDROIT)
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| − | *[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] (UNHCR), [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development]] (UNCTAD)
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| − | *[[International Grains Council]] (IGC)
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| − | *[[International Committee for Military Medicine]] (ICMM)
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| − | *[[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA)
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| − | *[[Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization]] (CTBTO).
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| − | In 1971, the Holy See announced the decision to adhere to the nuclear [[Non-Proliferation Treaty]] in order to "give its moral support to the principles that form the base of the treaty itself." It is also a guest of honour to the [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]].
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| − | Furthermore, the Holy See has a delegate to the [[Arab League]] in [[Cairo]] (AL).
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| − | == Relationship with the Vatican City ==
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| − | Although the Holy See is closely associated with the [[Vatican City]], the independent territory over which the Holy See is [[Sovereignty|sovereign]], the two entities are separate and distinct. After the [[Italy|Italian]] takeover of the [[Papal States]] in [[1870]], there was some uncertainty among [[jurist]]s as to whether the Holy See, without territorial sovereignty, could continue to act as an independent personality in international matters. The State of the Vatican City was created by the [[Lateran treaties]] in [[1929]] to "insure the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See" and "to guarantee to it an indisputable sovereignty in international affairs" (quotes from the treaty). Archbishop [[Jean-Louis Tauran]], the Holy See's former Secretary for Relations with States, said that the Vatican City is a "miniscule support-state that guarantees the spiritual freedom of the Pope with the minimum territory". [http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/rc_seg-st_doc_20020422_tauran_en.html]
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| − | The Holy See, not the Vatican City, maintains diplomatic relations with states (such as with the [[British Ambassadors to the Holy See|United Kingdom]]), and participates in international organizations. Foreign [[embassy|embassies]] are accredited to the Holy See rather than to the Vatican City, and it is the Holy See that establishes [[treaty|treaties]] and [[concordat]]s with other sovereign entities. When necessary, the Holy See will enter a treaty on behalf of the Vatican City.
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