Congregation for Clergy

The Latest

Bishop Eduardo Maria Taussig.

Argentine bishop says Vatican ordered seminary closed

Aug 10, 2020

An Argentine bishop said Friday the seminary in his diocese was ordered closed last month by a decision of the... Read more

Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, pictured Oct. 24, 2019.

Vatican cardinal invites German bishops to discuss parish instruction

Jul 30, 2020

A Vatican cardinal has invited German bishops to Rome to discuss their criticisms of a new instruction on parishes.   Read more

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Cardinal Kasper defends Vatican instruction on parishes

Jul 27, 2020

Cardinal Walter Kasper has defended a new Vatican instruction on parishes after it was criticized by several German bishops.   Read more

From left: Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, and Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück.

Germany’s Catholic bishops divided over Vatican instruction on parishes

Jul 23, 2020

A new Vatican instruction on parishes has received a mixed reception in Germany.  Read more

St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican publishes instructions on parish reform and diocesan restructuring

Jul 20, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy published instructions Monday on reforming parishes and restructuring dioceses to better serve their “singular mission... Read more

Archbishop Stephan Burger of Freiburg.

German archdiocese plans to cut parishes from 1,000 to 40

Jul 16, 2020

A German archdiocese is pressing ahead with plans to dramatically reduce the number of its parishes despite the Vatican’s decision... Read more

Bischof Stephan Ackermann of Trier.

Vatican halts German diocesan plan to turn 800 parishes into 35

Jun 10, 2020

The Vatican has intervened to halt a controversial plan to reorganize a German diocese.  Read more

Priests celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Denver Jan. 17, 2015.

Pope appoints new under-secretaries to CDF and Congregation for Clergy

Sep 14, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Thursday, the Vatican announced Pope Francis' appointment of Fr. Matteo Visioli as the new under-secretary of the Congregation for... Read more

A statue of Bernadette Soubirous and Our Lady of Guadalupe near the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France on May 15, 2015.

Pope Francis says Catholic shrines are a key place for evangelization

Apr 2, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Saturday, Pope Francis moved the responsibility for Catholic shrines to be under the Congregation for the Promotion of the... Read more

Pope Francis greets newly ordained priests during their Mass of ordination in St. Peter's Basilica, April 26, 2015.

Priests aren't mushrooms: Pope Francis' reflection on priestly ministry, formation

Nov 22, 2015

Pope Francis on Friday spoke to a conference marking the 50th anniversary of Vatican II's decrees on the ministry and... Read more