Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy (Pontificia Ecclesiastica Academia) is one of the Roman Colleges of the Roman Catholic Church. The academy is dedicated to training priests to serve in the diplomatic corps and the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy is a college and is not one of the ten specific Pontifical Academies of the Holy See.
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[edit] History
The diplomatic service of the Holy See can be traced back to the First Council of Nicaea when Pope Sylvester I sent legates to represent him during the discussions of the council. The present Academy was created as the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles in 1701 by Abbot Pietro Garagni.[1]
[edit] Function
Located inside Palazzo Severoli, Piazza della Minerva, central Rome, the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy trains Catholic priests sent by their bishop from different parts of the world to study ecclesiastical and international diplomacy, particularly in order that the alumni may later be selected to serve in the Diplomatic posts of the Holy See—ultimately as a papal nuncio, or ambassador. Many leaders of the church have been alumni of the academy, including Popes Clement XIII, Leo XII, Leo XIII, Benedict XV, and Paul VI.[2]
Students spend four years at the academy; two years earning a licentiate in canon from a Roman University (such as the Pontifical Gregorian University), then two years earning a doctrate in canon law. If the students that have been recruited already have a JCD then their time at the PEA is shortened to two years. The courses are usually in diplomatic history and languages and diplomatic writing. Courses at the PEA are not aimed at being awarded a degree but there is an oral and written exam.
The current President of the academy is Archbishop Beniamino Stella.
[edit] References
- ^ "Cenni Storici (Italian)". Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdeccles/documents/storia_it.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
- ^ "Pontefici ex-alunni (Italian)". Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdeccles/documents/pontefici-ex.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 41°53′53″N 12°28′38″E / 41.89806°N 12.47722°E
