Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

' Dictionarium Annamiticum Lusitanum et Latinum, published by the Propaganda Fide in 1651. Pope Gregory XV founded the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (Propaganda Fide) in 1622. With the bull Inscrutabili Divinae, through the body was charged with fostering the spread of Catholicism and with the regulation of Catholic ecclesiastical affairs in non-Catholic countries. It sought to promote the Church's missionary work and to gain more control over foreign missions from Spain and Portugal. By 1917, all Eastern-rite churches had been removed from the Propaganda Fide's jurisdiction. With the reform of Praedicate evangelium, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples was merged with the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, to create the Dicastery for Evangelization. == Purposes ==

The Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith was established in 1622 due to the realization that the governmental structure of the episcopal structure and the decretal law was not possible. Episcopal structure and the Decretal law was government as described in the New Testament. In this new structure, missionaries would be given orders from Rome, and administrative power would be traded over to those who were titled bishops. The Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith was left in charge to give faculties to the aforementioned bishops in addition to perfects, who were similar to bishops without the notoriety. ;A congregation for the propagation of the faith On January 6, 1622 Gregory XV erected the Congregation de Propaganda Fide as central and supreme organ for the propagation of the faith to aim at the union of the Orthodox and Protestant Churches and to promote and organize the mission among non-Christians. ;The establishment of a seminary for the training of missionaries The Pontificio Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide ("Pontifical Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith") was established in 1627 by Pope Urban VIII for the purpose of training missionaries. It was located at the former Palazzo Ferratini at the Piazza di Spagna. The college prepared students for holy orders, after which they were to return to their homelands as missionaries. In 1641 Urban VIII placed it directly under the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. In 1931 the new Pontifical Urban University opened on the Janiculum. ;The establishment of a printing press to provide literature for missions The congregation needed to mass-produce literature for their missions so they established their own printing press four years after their founding in 1626 (New Catholic Encyclopedia 11, 751). The press contributed it literature to the Collegium Urbanum as well as to missionaries traveling cross-country to territories that the Vatican entrusted them. The press was originally called Polyglotta, and was intended to print Catholic literature in the various native languages that CPF missionaries would encounter. ==Palazzo di Propaganda Fide==

: etching by Giuseppe Vasi, 1761. The Congregation was originally housed in a small palace, the Palazzo Ferratini, donated by the Spanish priest Vives. The building is located in the Rione Colonna, at the southern end of Piazza di Spagna. The architectural complex of the Propaganda Fide was developed in the triangular urban block between the Via Due Macelli and the Via del Collegio di Propaganda Fide, two streets which diverged from the piazza. by Bernini; behind the Column of the Immaculate Conception. In 1634 a small oval chapel was built according to designs by Bernini. In 1642, Father Valerio, with Bernini, redesigned the façade to the Piazza di Spagna, and the development was continued along the Via Due Macelli by Gaspare de'Vecchio from 1639–1645. In 1648, Borromini took over and made various proposals that included demolishing Bernini's chapel, which must have been particularly galling for the latter as he could see the building from his house on Via Mercede. The Re Magi chapel, dedicated to the Three Kings, has a plan with four side chapels and galleries above. The wall pilasters are continued in the vault as ribs that criss-cross and unite the space, unlike his design at the Oratory of Philip Neri Oratorio dei Filippini where the ribs are interrupted by the oval fresco at the centre of the vault. The criss-cross arrangement in the Re Magi Chapel is such that an octagon is formed at the centre, embellished with a Dove of the Holy Spirit bathed in golden rays. The central door leads into the courtyard where Borromini intended a curved arcade but this was not built. Only the left hand side of the façade relates to the chapel and the right to the stair and entrance to the College. Other parts of the College have further minor works by Borromini. == Officials ==

Prefects The prefect is ex officio President of the Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urbaniana University. Secretaries The secretary assists the cardinal-prefect in the day-to-day running of the congregation and is always an archbishop. They usually go on to hold a position in the Roman Curia that brings them membership to the College of Cardinals. Adjunct Secretaries The adjunct secretary, when one is appointed, is concurrently President of the Pontifical Mission Societies. • Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don (1 October 2001 – 2005.12.10) • Henryk Hoser, S.A.C. (22 January 2005 – 24 May 2008) • Piergiuseppe Vacchelli (24 May 2008 – 26 June 2012) • Giampietro Del Toso (9 November 2017 – 21 January 2023) • Samuele Sangalli (1 October 2024 - ) Undersecretary • Charles Asa Schleck (1995–2000) Delegate of the Administration • Msgr. Angelo Mottola (Italy; later Archbishop) (1986 – 1999.07.16) == See also ==