The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, as established by the Apostolic Constitution  Praedicate Evangelium , “has the task of promoting the human person and his dignity, human rights, health, justice, and peace. It is concerned primarily with issues relating to the economy and work, the care of creation and of the earth as our common home, migration, and humanitarian emergencies. It deepens and spreads the Church’s social doctrine on integral human development and recognizes and interprets, in the light of the Gospel, the needs and concerns of humankind in its time and in the future.” The Prefect is  Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ , and the Secretary is  Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA.

Historical notes

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development was established by  Pope Francis on August 17, 2016 , with the Motu Proprio  Humanam Progressionem . The Dicastery incorporates the competencies of four Pontifical Councils: the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, and the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers.

For the first six years after the Dicastery’s inception, matters relating to migrants, refugees, and victims of trafficking were entrusted to a specific Section, the  Migrants and Refugees Section ,  temporarily  under the direct guidance of Pope Francis, assisted by two undersecretaries. Since January 1, 2023, the Section has been fully integrated into the Dicastery, which has inherited its tasks and responsibilities.

At the request of Francis, in March 2020, with the arrival of Covid-19, the Dicastery —in collaboration with other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia and other organizations— brought to life the  Vatican Covid-19 Commission , with the task of facing the numerous challenges caused by the pandemic and alleviating the suffering of people and communities, guiding “with science and imagination” towards an equitable and just future, with the awareness that “everything is interconnected”.

Through its work, the Dicastery promotes the integral development of the person in the light of the Gospel and the Social Doctrine of the Church. It expresses the Pope’s concern and care for suffering humanity and for local Churches, placing itself at the service of Episcopal Conferences, particular Churches, and all the various entities that collaborate with them.

Organization

Every day, significant time is dedicated to  listening to and engaging in direct dialogue with the Local Churches , paying attention to their concerns and specific requests that reflect the ever-changing challenges of individual communities. Through listening, dialogue, and synodal reflection, pastoral guidelines and appropriate responses are proposed to support and serve the Church.

Specific guidelines are offered to enable local Churches to accompany their people in an evangelical way as they face urgent concerns and situations, including through the exchange of effective best practices, so that communities can learn from one another. In particular, special attention is given to areas that fall within the Dicastery’s competence, including:

• Human rights and health.
• Justice, peace and disarmament.
• Economy and work.
• Environment.
• Migrants, refugees and humanitarian emergencies.
• Contemporary forms of slavery and any field where human dignity is denied or put at risk.

The Dicastery promotes its activities through a  network of relationships  involving Episcopal Conferences, local Churches, Roman Curia bodies, international organizations, NGOs, associations and humanitarian agencies (Catholic and non-Catholic).

The Apostolic Constitution  Praedicate Evangelium  highlights the Dicastery’s collaboration with the Secretariat of State and its close relationship with the  Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences . Furthermore, it confirms the Dicastery’s competence with regard to  Caritas Internationalis  and the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel. The new  Van Thuân Foundation , to which the assets of the former Justice and Peace and Good Samaritan Foundations have been transferred, also belongs to the Dicastery. The Dicastery addresses the full diversity and richness of peoples’ lives from the perspective of growth and well-being that is for all, ensuring that no one is left behind.

(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