Pontifical universities in Rome

A pontifical university is a Catholic university established by and directly under the authority of the Holy See. It is licensed to grant academic degrees in sacred faculties, the most important of which are Sacred Theology, Canon Law, Sacred Scripture and Philosophy. Pontifical universities follow a European system of degrees in the sacred faculties, granting the baccalaureate, the licentiate, and the doctorate.

Independent institutions or individual faculties at non-pontifical universities may also be given charters by the Holy See to grant pontifical degrees, usually in one or two specific fields. These are referred to as a "pontifical faculty" or "pontifical institute" to distinguish it from an entire "pontifical university."

As defined by the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 815 Ecclesiastical universities or faculties, which are to investigate the sacred disciplines or those connected to the sacred and to instruct students scientifically in the same disciplines, are proper to the Church by virtue of its function to announce the revealed truth.

Can. 816 §1. Ecclesiastical universities and faculties can be established only through erection by the Apostolic See or with its approval; their higher direction also pertains to it.

§2. Individual ecclesiastical universities and faculties must have their own statutes and plan of studies approved by the Apostolic See.

Can. 817 No university or faculty which has not been erected or approved by the Apostolic See is able to confer academic degrees which have canonical effects in the Church.

The Vicariate (diocese) of Rome has established an office for campus ministry and the pastoral care of students, the Office of Pastorale Universitaria. This office serves students at the pontifical universities as well as those enrolled at state universities.

Academic degrees

Like other theological faculties, pontifical universities divide studies into 3 cycles: the first cycle of varying duration, after which is obtained a Bachelor (Baccellierato), the second cycle leads to the conferment of a License degree (Licenza) and finally with the third level a Graduate degree (Dottorato) can be obtained. The duration of courses varies from university to university.

In Italy "degrees in theology and other ecclesiastical disciplines, conferred by a Faculty approved by the Holy See are recognized by the State" pursuant to art. 10/II of the 25 March 1985 n.21 Law (OJ No 28, April 10, 1985). However, no measures were taken designed to establish a priori the equivalence with the titles conferred by Italian universities. It is therefore not possible to predetermine a mandatory equivalence for qualifications issued by pontifical universities with those issued by state universities. Indeed, in Italy, constant changes make it very complex to unify a university curriculum with the problem of equality that must be resolved, at their request, from time to time by the relevant Ministry of Education, University and Research [1].

Courses

Pontifical universities in Rome have established faculties of Sacred Theology, of Civil Law and Canon Law or Utriusque iuris, of Philosophy, of Biblical Sciences and Archeology, of Christian and classical literature, of Missiology, Education Science and Social Communication Sciences.

Admission

Pontifical universities in Rome accept students from around the world, whether clergy or laity. With special permission and motivated, even non-Christians may be admitted.

Students are normally classified into normal students, extraordinary students and guest students.

Admission to courses of the Faculties or Institutes of a pontifical university may be conditional on the knowledge of Latin, Greek or other foreign languages.

Institutions

The Pontifical Gregorian University.

Pontifical universities

In Rome, the following seven pontifical universities qualify with respect to Can. 815: The Religious Order or other ecclesiastical body responsible for the administration of the university is listed in parentheses.

• Pontifical Gregorian University 'Gregoriana' (Society of Jesus; 'Jesuits')
• Pontifical Lateran University 'Lateranum' (Diocese of Rome)
• Pontifical Salesian University 'Salesianum' (Society of St. Francis de Sales; 'Salesians of Don Bosco')
• Pontifical University of the Holy Cross 'Santa Croce' (Personal Prelature of the Holy Cross; 'Opus Dei')
• Pontifical University of St. Anthony 'Antonianum' (Order of Friars Minor; 'Franciscans')
• Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas 'Angelicum' (Order of Preachers; 'Dominicans')
• Pontifical Urban University 'Urbaniana' (Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; 'Propaganda Fide')

Pontifical Athenaea and Institutes

In Rome, the following institutes of higher education qualify with respect to Can. 814:

• Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum
• Pontifical Athenaeum for Liturgy 'Sant'Anselmo'
• Pontifical Institute for Patristic Studies 'Augustinianum'
• Pontifical Academy of Moral Theology 'Alfonsiana'
• Pontifical Institute for Spirituality 'Teresianum'
• Pontifical Institute for Biblical Studies 'Biblicum'
• Pontifical Institute for the Eastern Churches 'Orientale'
• Pontifical Institute for Marriage and Family Life 'John Paul II'
• Pontifical Institute for Consecrated Life 'Claretianum'
• Pontifical Faculty of Education 'Auxilium'
• Pontifical Faculty of Mariology 'Marianum'
• Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure 'Seraphicum'
• Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music 'PIMS'
• Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies 'PISAI'
• Pontifical Institute for the Theology of Pastoral Health Care 'Camillianum'
• Pontifical Institute for Christian Archaeology 'PIAC'