The desire to embrace men and women of all backgrounds, cultures, and geographical origins led Pope Francis, in 2016, to create this new structure within the Holy See, uniting the responsibilities of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. Its responsibilities “affect the daily lives of so many people,” Pope Francis has said, making it a “popular” Dicastery. Cardinal  Kevin Joseph Farrell , the Prefect, is assisted in leading the Dicastery by Bishop Dario Gervasi , the Assistant Secretary,  and  Gleison De Paula Souza, the Secretary .

Historical notes

Established by Pope Francis in August 2016 with the Motu Proprio  Sedula Mater , the Dicastery has unified the competencies relating to the laity, family and life, previously attributed to the respective Pontifical Councils.

• Lay people:  The first was created by Saint Paul VI in 1967 with the Motu Proprio  Catholicam Christi Ecclesiam , implementing a proposal from the Second Vatican Council decree  Apostolicam actuositatem . With its “youth section,” by the will of Saint John Paul II, since 1985 the Pontifical Council for the Laity—now a Dicastery—has been involved from the very beginning in the organization of  World Youth Day , in collaboration with the local committees.

• Family:  It was instituted by John Paul II with the Motu Proprio  Familia a Deo Instituta  in 1981, replacing the Committee for the Family created by Paul VI in 1973. Since 1994, the Year of the Family, this body has been responsible for organizing the  World Meetings of Families .

Skills

The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, as established by the Apostolic Constitution  Praedicate Evangelium , promotes the vocation and mission of all lay people, whether as individuals or as members of associations, movements and communities, in all areas, civil and ecclesial.

• Youth and Women:  This section expresses the Church’s concern for young people, promoting their active participation in the face of the world’s challenges. It contributes to the Church’s reflection on the identity and mission of women and men, valuing feminine and masculine characteristics and even developing models of leadership roles for women in the Church.

• Co-responsibility:  This body studies the cooperation between lay people and ordained ministers by virtue of Baptism. Its task is to evaluate and approve proposals from Episcopal Conferences regarding the establishment of  new ministries  and ecclesiastical offices for lay people.

• Marriage and Family:  Promotes pastoral care for marriage based on the Magisterium. It strives to ensure the recognition of the rights and duties of spouses and families in society, the economy, and politics. Furthermore, it studies the causes of marital crises and proposes models of accompaniment for divorced and remarried individuals or for those living in polygamous relationships in certain cultures.

• Defense of Life:  Supports initiatives in favor of responsible procreation and the protection of human life from conception to natural death. Works to prevent abortion and studies the main  biomedical and legal issues  related to life, in dialogue with science and other theological disciplines.

Walking together to evangelize

This is what Pope Francis said in February 2023 when he met with the participants of a congress organized by the Dicastery:

“I would like us all to have in our hearts and minds this beautiful vision of the Church: a Church dedicated to mission, where forces are united and we walk together to evangelize; a Church in which what unites us is our being baptized Christians, our belonging to Jesus; a Church where true fraternity is lived between laity and pastors, working side by side every day, in every area of ​​pastoral work, because all are baptized.”

(Translation made while maintaining fidelity to the original text published in  Vatican News  )

1. State Secretariat
2. Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
3. Dicastery for Bishops
4. Dicastery for the Clergy
5. Dicastery for the Service of Charity
6. Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
7. Dicastery for the Causes of Saints
8. The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity
9. Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
10. Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
11. Dicastery for Communication
12. Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life