Vatican City, Jun 28, 2010 / 09:32 am
The Vatican underscored the value of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, known also as "De Propaganda Fide" on Monday in a communique explaining the dicasteries' origins and principal functions. The explanation comes as the actions of one of its previous prefects have been called into question.
The communique was released a week after the former head of the congregation, Archbishop of Naples Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe was defended by Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi after accusations surfaced that he had allegedly taken part in sketchy real estate deals involving an Italian government official.
The Holy See's Press Office explained that it is necessary at this point to "recall some objective information" to protect the good reputation of such an "important organism of the Holy See and of the Catholic Church."
According to the statement, "the Congregation is the organ that has the task of directing and coordinating the work of evangelization and missionary cooperation in the whole world."