View source for Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

{{short description|Department of the Roman Curia}} {{Redirect|The Holy Office|the 1974 Mexican film|The Holy Office (film)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox government agency|name=Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith|native_name={{lang|la|Dicasterium pro doctrina fidei}}|type=Dicastery|seal=Coat of arms Holy See.svg|seal_size=100px|seal_caption=Coat of arms of the Holy See|logo=|picture=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.jpg|picture_caption=The [[Palace of the Holy Office]]|parent_department=[[Roman Curia]]|website={{URL|https://www.doctrinafidei.va/en.html|doctrinafidei.va}},<br/>{{URL|https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/index.htm}}|agency_type=[[Dicastery]]|formed={{start date and age|1542|07|21}}|preceding1=Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition|preceding2=Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office|preceding3=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|jurisdiction=|headquarters=[[Palace of the Holy Office|Palazzo del Sant'Uffizio]],<br />[[Rome]], Italy|employees=|budget=|chief1_name='''Vacant'''|chief1_position=[[Prefect]]|chief4_name=[[Joseph Augustine Di Noia]], [[Order of Preachers|OP]]|chief4_position=Adjunct Secretary|chief5_name=[[Charles Scicluna|Charles Jude Scicluna]]|chief5_position=Adjunct Secretary|chief2_name=Armando Matteo|chief2_position=Secretary|chief3_name=[[John Joseph Kennedy]]|chief3_position=Secretary|chief7_name=Matteo Visioli|chief7_position=Undersecretary|chief8_name=Robert Joseph Geisinger, [[Society of Jesus|SJ]]|chief8_position=Promoter of Justice|chief9_name=|chief9_position=}}

The '''Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith''' ('''DDF''') is a department of the [[Roman Curia]] in charge of the religious discipline of the [[Catholic Church]]. The Dicastery is the oldest among the departments of the [[Roman Curia]]. Its seat is the [[Palace of the Holy Office]] in [[Rome]], just outside [[Vatican City]]. It was founded to defend the [[Catholic Church]] from [[Heresy in the Catholic Church|heresy]] and is the body responsible for promulgating and defending Catholic doctrine.<ref name="Vatican profile">{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_pro_14071997_en.html|title=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - Profile|website=www.vatican.va|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref>

This institution was founded by [[Pope Paul III]] on 21 July 1542, as the '''Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition'''.{{efn|The names "[[Roman Inquisition]]" or "Holy Inquisition" arose from this name, terms later popularly used in reference to the 16th-century tribunals against heresy.}} It was then renamed in 1908 as the '''Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office'''. In 1965, it became the '''Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith''' (CDF; {{langx|la|Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei}}). Since 2022, it is named Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.{{efn|Pope Francis reorganized the Curia with his apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia, titled ''[[Praedicate evangelium]]'' ("Preach the gospel"), which took effect on 5 June 2022.}} It is still informally known as the '''Holy Office''' ({{langx|la|Sanctum Officium}}) in many [[Catholic countries]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Definition of HOLY OFFICE|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Holy+Office|access-date=2022-06-08|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en}}</ref> The sole objective of the dicastery is to "spread sound [[Catholic theology|Catholic doctrine]] and defend those points of Christian tradition which seem in danger because of new and unacceptable doctrines."<ref name="Vatican profile" />

The congregation employs an [[advisory board]] including [[Cardinalate|cardinals]], [[bishops]], [[priests]], lay [[theologians]], and [[Canon lawyer|canon lawyers]]. On 1 July 2023, [[Pope Francis]] named Argentine archbishop [[Víctor Manuel Fernández]] as prefect, who took possession of the office in mid-September.<ref>{{Citation|last=|first=|year=2023|title=Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office (in Italian)|publisher=|publication-place=|page=|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/07/01/0487/01090.html|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref>

== History ==
{{further|Roman Inquisition}}
[[File:Galileo_before_the_Holy_Office.jpg|left|thumb|280x280px|''Astronomer [[Galileo Galilei]] presented before the Holy Office'', a 19th-century painting by [[Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury]]]]
On 21 July 1542, [[Pope Paul III]] proclaimed the [[Apostolic Constitution]] ''Licet ab initio'', establishing the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal [[Inquisition]], staffed by [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinals]] and other officials whose task it was "to maintain and defend the integrity of the [[faith]] and to examine and proscribe errors and false doctrines." It served as the [[final court of appeal]] in trials of [[Heresy in the Catholic Church|heresy]] and served as an important part of the [[Counter-Reformation]].

This body was renamed the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office in 1908 by [[Pope Pius X]]. In many [[Catholic countries]], the body is often informally called the Holy Office (e.g., {{langx|it|Sant'Uffizio}} and {{langx|es|Santo Oficio}}).

The congregation's name was changed to Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (SCDF) on 7 December 1965, at the end of the [[Second Vatican Council]]. Soon after the [[1983 Code of Canon Law|1983 ''Code of Canon Law'']] came into effect, the adjective "sacred" was dropped from the names of all Curial Congregations,{{efn|It remained in use throughout 1984, as can be seen in the ''[[Acta Apostolicae Sedis]]'' of that year, but no longer appeared in the 1985 issues of that official bulletin of the Holy See.}} and so it became the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In 2022, the name was changed to ''Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith''.

On September 23, 2024, Pope Francis appointed 28 Italian new consultors of the dicastery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/09/23/240923g.html|title=Resignations and Appointments}}</ref>

=== Timeline ===
{| cellpadding="2"
|1542
|''Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition'' is established<ref name="Vatican profile" />
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|1622
|[[Pope Gregory XV]] writes a letter addressing the issue of priests abusing the confessional to solicit "shameful and dishonorable conduct". The letter is referenced in ''[[Sacramentum Poenitentiae]]'' (1741).<!-- how related to CDF? -->
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|1665
|The General Congregation of the Universal Inquisition, in the presence of [[Pope Alexander VII]], reiterates that propositions by confessors to solicit or provoke sex from penitents are "alien and discordant by the Evangelical truth and clearly so by the sixth and seventh doctrines of the Holy Fathers" and are to be "checked, condemned, and prohibited. […] The Inquisitors of Heretical Depravity […] [should] seek out and proceed against everyone – every priest […] who has essayed to tempt a penitent."<ref>{{cite web|author=Benedict XIV|date=1 June 1741|title=Sacramentum poenitentiae|language=la, en|website=richardsipe.com|url=http://richardsipe.com/patrick_wall/selected_documents/1741%20Sacramentum%20poenitentiae.pdf|access-date=1 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127070844/http://richardsipe.com/patrick_wall/selected_documents/1741%20Sacramentum%20poenitentiae.pdf|archive-date=27 November 2010|url-status=live}} Includes English translation by unknown.</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|1908
|''The Inquisition'' is renamed ''Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office'' by [[Pope Pius X]].<ref name="Vatican profile" />
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|1965
|''The Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office'' is renamed ''Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith'' (SCDF).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith - Profile|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_pro_14071997_en.html|access-date=2023-01-07|website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|1988
|[[Pope John Paul II]] reaffirms the authority of the CDF on 28 June: "The proper duty of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on faith and morals in the whole Catholic world; so it has competence in things that touch this matter in any way."<ref name="Article 48-55">{{cite web|author=John Paul II|date=28 June 1988|title=Pastor bonus|website=vatican.va|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19880628_pastor-bonus-roman-curia.html|access-date=11 April 2012|at=Articles 48–55}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|2001
|John Paul II issues ''[[Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela]]'' "by which are promulgated Norms concerning the more grave delicts reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." It, again, reaffirms the CDF's responsibilities, expressing that it was necessary to define more precisely both "the more grave delicts whether against morals or committed in the celebration of the sacraments" for which the competence of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith remains exclusive, and also the special procedural norms "for declaring or imposing canonical sanctions."<ref name="Sac sanc tut">{{cite web|author=John Paul II|date=30 April 2001|title=Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela|website=vatican.va|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_20020110_sacramentorum-sanctitatis-tutela.html|access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|2014
|On 11 November, [[Pope Francis]] sets up within the CDF a special body to expedite consideration of appeals by priests against laicization or other penalties imposed on them in cases of sexual abuse.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wooden|first=Cindy|date=11 November 2014|title=Pope sets up new body to speed handling of sex abuse appeals|agency=Catholic News Service|publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|url=http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2014/pope-sets-up-new-body-to-speed-handling-of-sex-abuse-appeals.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101231537/http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2014/pope-sets-up-new-body-to-speed-handling-of-sex-abuse-appeals.cfm|archive-date=1 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|2015
|Francis establishes an ecclesiastical judicial commission, which will have its own staff and secretary, to try bishops, which will work with other units of the CDF and with the congregation that has oversight over the bishop.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Povoledo|first1=Elisabetta|last2=Goodstein|first2=Laurie|date=10 June 2015|title=Pope creates tribunal for bishop negligence in child sexual abuse cases|website=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York|url=http://nyti.ms/1Ge1kUS|access-date=29 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003063232/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/11/world/europe/pope-creates-tribunal-for-bishop-negligence-in-child-sexual-abuse-cases.html?_r=0|archive-date=3 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|2018
|Francis appoints three women as consultors to the Congregation, the first in its history.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Connell|first1=Gerard|title=Pope Francis appoints three women as consultants to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|url=https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/04/21/pope-francis-appoints-three-women-consultants-congregation-doctrine-faith|access-date=23 April 2018|work=[[America (magazine)|America]]|date=21 April 2018}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|2019
|The [[Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei]] is merged into the Congregation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2019/01/19/0047/00101.html|title=Lettera Apostolica in forma di Motu proprio circa la Pontificia Commissione "Ecclesia Dei"|website=press.vatican.va|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|2022
|On 14 February, Francis reorganises the CDF through the ''[[motu proprio]]'' ''Fidem servare'', dividing it into two departments: a doctrinal section and a disciplinary section, each with its own secretary reporting to the prefect. The formerly independent marriage section is merged into the doctrinal section.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=15 February 2022|url=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2022/02/pope-restructures-vatican-doctrinal-office|work=Crux|date=14 February 2022|title=Pope restructures Vatican doctrinal office|first=Elise Ann|last=Allen}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|2022
|On 5 June, the ''Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith'' is renamed the ''Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith'' as part of the restructuring of the Roman Curia by the apostolic constitution ''[[Praedicate evangelium]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Praedicate Evangelium, sulla Curia Romana e il suo servizio alla Chiesa nel Mondo (19 marzo 2022)|author=Pope Francis|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/apost_constitutions/documents/20220319-costituzione-ap-praedicate-evangelium.html|access-date=8 June 2022|publisher=Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana|at=Article 69}}</ref> At the same time the [[Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors]] became part of this Dicastery, operating with its own staff and according to its own norms.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Praedicate Evangelium, sulla Curia Romana e il suo servizio alla Chiesa nel Mondo (19 marzo 2022)|author=Pope Francis|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/apost_constitutions/documents/20220319-costituzione-ap-praedicate-evangelium.html|access-date=8 June 2022|publisher=Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana|at=Article 78}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|2023
|A 21 October, [[Papal rescripts|rescript]] of Pope Francis stated that the Pope's sole signature "affixated at the bottom" of any document of  the Doctrinal Section of the DDF, "including those preceding this Rescript", expressed the pope's approval and his authorisation for a possible publication of said document.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rescriptum ex Audientia S.Smi die 21 octobris 2023|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20231021_rescriptum-ex-audientia-ssmi_it.html|access-date=2023-12-17|website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>
|}

== Role ==
{{Update section|date=December 2023|reason=Too much space given to previous norms}}{{Roman Curia sidebar}}

According to the 1988 [[Apostolic Constitution]] on the Roman Curia, ''[[Pastor bonus]]'', article 48, promulgated by John Paul II: "The proper duty of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on faith and morals in the whole Catholic world; so it has competence in things that touch this matter in any way."<ref name="Article 48-55" />

This includes investigations into grave delicts (i.e., acts which the Catholic Church considers as being the most serious crimes: crimes against the [[Eucharist]] and against the sanctity of the Sacrament of Penance, and crimes against the sixth Commandment ("Thou shalt not commit adultery")) committed by a cleric against a person under the age of eighteen. These crimes, in ''Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela'' a ''[[motu proprio]]'' of 2001, come under the competency of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In effect, it is the "promoter of justice" that deals with, among other things, the question of [[Roman Catholic sex abuse cases|priests accused of paedophilia]].<ref name="Sac sanc tut" /><ref>{{cite interview|last=Scicluna|first=Charles|author-link=Charles Scicluna|interviewer=Gianni Cardinale of ''Avvenire''|date=13 March 2010|title=Promoter of justice at Doctrine of Faith on paedophilia|location=Vatican City|publisher=Vatican Information Service|id=VIS 20100313 (2070)|url=http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2010/03/promoter-of-justice-at-doctrine-of.html}} Translated from "Il «pm» vaticano: «Chiesa rigorosa sulla pedofilia»". ''Avvenire'' (in Italian) (Milan, IT: Avvenire Nuova Editoriale Italiana S.p.a.). 13 March 2010.</ref>{{efn|The revision of ''Norms concerning the more grave delicts reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith'' {{As of|2010|5|21|alt=currently in force is the revision approved by Benedict XVI in 2010}}.<ref>{{cite web|author=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|title=The norms of the motu proprio 'Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela' (2001): historical introduction|website=vatican.va|url=https://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_introd-storica_en.html|access-date=29 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220153025/https://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_introd-storica_en.html|archive-date=20 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|date=21 May 2010|title=A brief introduction to the modifications made in the ''Normae de gravioribus delictis'', reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|website=vatican.va|url=https://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_rel-modifiche_en.html|access-date=29 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229062215/http://w2.vatican.va/resources/resources_rel-modifiche_en.html|archive-date=29 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith |date=21 May 2010 |title=[Norms concerning the more grave delicts reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith] |website=vatican.va |edition=2010 rev. |url=https://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_norme_en.html |access-date=29 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220152905/https://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_norme_en.html |archive-date=20 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

Within the DDF are the [[International Theological Commission]] and the [[Pontifical Biblical Commission]]. The Prefect of the DDF is ''[[ex officio]]'' president of these commissions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Praedicate Evangelium, sulla Curia Romana e il suo servizio alla Chiesa nel Mondo (19 marzo 2022)|author=Pope Francis|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/apost_constitutions/documents/20220319-costituzione-ap-praedicate-evangelium.html|access-date=11 June 2022|publisher=Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana|at=Article 77}}</ref>

On 7 December 2021, Pope Francis [[Promulgation (Catholic canon law)|promulgated]] a new version of the "Norms on the Delicts Reserved to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith"; the original version had been first promulgated in 2001 by John Paul II and amended in 2010 by Benedict XVI. The changes of the new version concern "harmonising the norms with the revised Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, which was promulgated in May 2021" and adding "numerous normative measures of various kinds issued in previous years, especially since 2016."<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 December 2021|title=Pope Francis updates norms on more serious ecclesiastical crimes|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-12/pope-francis-updates-norms-on-more-serious-ecclesiastical-crimes.html|url-status=live|website=Vatican News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207143704/https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-12/pope-francis-updates-norms-on-more-serious-ecclesiastical-crimes.html|archive-date=7 December 2021}}</ref>

== Organization ==
Until 1968, the [[pope]] held the title of prefect and appointed a cardinal to preside over the meetings, first as Secretary, then as Pro-Prefect.

Since 1968, the Cardinal head of the [[dicastery]] has borne the title of ''Prefect'' and the title of ''Secretary'' refers to the second highest-ranking officer of the Congregation. As of 2012 the Congregation had a membership of 18 cardinals and a smaller number of non-cardinal bishops, a staff of 38 (clerical and lay) and 26 consultors.<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2012'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, {{ISBN|978-88-209-8722-0}}), pp. 1159–1160</ref>

The work of the CDF is divided into two sections, the doctrinal and the disciplinary. The CDF holds biennial plenary assemblies, and issues documents on doctrinal, disciplinary, and sacramental questions that occasionally include notifications concerning writings by Catholic theologians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/index.htm|title=The Holy See – The Roman Curia – Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|website=www.vatican.va|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref>

The disciplinary section has responsibility for dealing with credible allegations against clergy. [[John Joseph Kennedy|Archbishop Kennedy]] leads a staff of 16 full-time officials.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Allen|first=Ann Allen|date=2024-05-30|title=Rupnik case in ‘advanced stage’ despite complexities, says Vatican investigator|url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/rupnik-case-in-advanced-stage-despite-complexities-says-vatican-investigator/|access-date=|website=[[Catholic Herald]]|language=en-GB}}</ref>

On his appointment as prefect, [[Víctor Manuel Fernández|Cardinal Fernández]] was instructed to focus on the Dicastery's doctrinal work and leave the disciplinary section alone.<ref>[https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254712/full-text-pope-francis-letter-to-new-doctrine-chief-archbishop-fernandez#:~:text=Quoting%20from%20his%20first%20apostolic,single%20way%20of%20expressing%20it.%E2%80%9D Pope Francis’ letter to new doctrine chief Archbishop Fernández]</ref>

== Recent canonical judgments and publications ==
{{canon law}} The following is a non-exhaustive list of recent documents and judgments issued by the DDF. Lengthy DDF documents usually have Latin titles.  A short document that briefly states objections to one or more writings by a Catholic theologian is typically called a "notification".

=== 2021–present ===

* On May 18, 2024, the Dicastery Prefect [[Víctor Manuel Fernández]] published a 2024 text signed by [[Pope Francis]] which replaced the 1978 ''[[Normae Congregationis]]'' rulings. It sets new norms and guidelines for Catholic bishops in discerning claims of [[private revelation]] such as [[Marian apparition|Marian apparitions]]. Fernández enumerated six possible conclusions for alleged supernatural phenomena discernment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Norms for proceeding in the Discernment of alleged Supernatural Phenomena (17 May 2024)|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20240517_norme-fenomeni-soprannaturali_en.html|access-date=2024-05-18|website=www.vatican.va}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Lowen|first1=Mark|title=Vatican tightens rules on supernatural phenomena|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cekl9jd883yo|accessdate=May 17, 2024|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=May 18, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=McLellan|first1=Justin|title=Vatican publishes new norms to discern alleged supernatural phenomena|url=https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/vatican-publishes-new-norms-discern-alleged-supernatural-phenomena|accessdate=May 17, 2024|publisher=[[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]]|date=May 17, 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Dignitas Infinita]]'', promulgated April 8, 2024: condemns [[war]], [[poverty]], [[racism]], [[Gender-affirming surgery|sex reassignment]], [[abortion]], [[euthanasia]], [[gender theory]], [[surrogacy]], [[Xenophobia|discrimination against migrants]] and [[Homophobia|discrimination against homosexuals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/04/08/240408c.html|title=Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith "Dignitas Infinita" on Human Dignity}}</ref>
* ''[[Fiducia supplicans]]'', promulgated 18 December 2023: establishes a series of clarifications and reforms on the so-called "irregular relationships." Namely, those who establish a [[Monogamy|monogamous]] and emotional bond that lasts over time and who have not contracted [[marriage]] without making any changes to the marriage institution as being between a man and a woman.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Faiola|first1=Anthony|last2=Pitrelli|first2=Stefano|title=Pope Francis allows blessings of same-sex couples, shifting Vatican guidance|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/18/same-sex-unions-vatican-pope/|access-date=19 December 2023|agency=[[The Washington Post]]|work=Washingtonpost.com|date=18 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Doctrinal declaration opens possibility to bless couples in irregular situations|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-12/fiducia-supplicans-doctrine-faith-blessing-irregular-couples.html|access-date=19 December 2023|agency=[[Vatican News]]|date=18 December 2023}}</ref>
* [[Responsa|Responsum]] of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith affirming that a transgender person can receive baptism, and that transgender people, as well as "cohabiting homosexuals", can be [[Godparent|godparents]] and witnesses of matrimony even after undergoing [[Hormone therapy|hormone treatment]] and [[Gender-affirming surgery|sex-reassignment surgery]]. Furthermore, the child of a homosexual couple can be baptized provided that there is a "founded hope" that the child will be brought up in the Catholic religion (31 October 2023).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Answers to Several Questions from His Excellency, the Most Reverend José Negri, Bishop of Santo Amaro, Brazil, Regarding Participation in the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony by Transgender Persons and Homosexual Persons|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_20231031-documento-mons-negri_en.html|access-date=2024-04-10|website=press.vatican.va}}</ref>
* "[[Responsa|Responsum]] of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to a {{lang|la|dubium}} regarding the blessing of the unions of persons of the same sex," wherein the Church reaffirmed the view that "Church does not have, and cannot have, the power to bless unions of persons of the same sex" (15 March 2021).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Responsum of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to a dubium regarding the blessing of the unions of persons of the same sex|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2021/03/15/210315b.html|access-date=2021-10-25|website=press.vatican.va}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-03-15|title=Holy See: The Church cannot bless same-sex unions|work=Vatican News|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-03/holy-see-the-church-cannot-bless-same-sex-unions.html|access-date=2021-10-25|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-03-16|title=Pope Francis' LGBT+ views, as Vatican opposes same-sex blessings|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vatican-lgbt-unions-idUSKBN2B82MN|access-date=2021-10-25}}</ref>

=== 2011–2020 ===

* Redemptorist Fr. [[Tony Flannery]] is required to sign four fidelity oaths or not return to ministry<ref>{{cite web|date=2020-10-01|title=Fidelity oaths spark fear of return to theological silencing|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/theology/fidelity-oaths-spark-fear-return-theological-silencing|access-date=2020-10-02|website=National Catholic Reporter|language=en}}</ref> (1 October 2020).
* "Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious" (re-affirmed by Pope Francis on 15 April 2013)<ref>{{cite news|last=Pullella|first=Philip|date=15 April 2013|title=Pope Francis reiterates 'radical feminist' criticism of US nuns' group|agency=Reuters|website=worldnews.nbcnews.com|location=New York|publisher=NBC News Digital|url=http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/15/17762930-pope-francis-reiterates-radical-feminist-criticism-of-us-nuns-group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418131709/http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/15/17762930-pope-francis-reiterates-radical-feminist-criticism-of-us-nuns-group|archive-date=18 April 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|date=18 April 2012|title=Doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious|website=usccb.org|location=Washington, DC|publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|url=http://www.usccb.org/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=55544|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905084637/http://www.usccb.org/loader.cfm?csModule=security%2Fgetfile&pageid=55544|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== 2001–2010 ===

* {{lang|la|[[Dignitas Personae]]}} (on bioethical questions, with summary and press conference transcript; 8 September 2008)
* On 5 April 2008, as a result of "grave reservations" by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith about the [[Baptism for the dead|Mormon practice of posthumous rebaptism]], Catholic dioceses throughout the world were directed not to give information in parish registers to the Mormons' Genealogical Society of Utah for microfilming or digitizing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802443.htm|title=Vatican letter directs bishops to keep parish records from Mormons|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080513195437/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802443.htm|date=2 May 2008|archive-date=13 May 2008}}</ref>
* On 28 September 2007, Gaston Hebert, the then [[apostolic administrator]] of the Diocese of Little Rock, stated that (per the 11 July Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) six [[Arkansas]] [[nuns]] were [[Excommunication in the Catholic Church|excommunicated]] for [[Heresy in the Catholic Church|heresy]] (the first in the diocese's 165-year history). They refused to [[recant]] the [[doctrines]] of the [[Community of the Lady of All Nations]] ([[Army of Mary]]). The nuns are members of the Good Shepherd Monastery of Our Lady of Charity and Refuge in [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]]. Sister Mary Theresa Dionne, 82, one of the six, said they will still live at the [[convent]] property, which they own. The [[sect]] believes that its 86-year-old founder, Marie Paule Giguere, is the [[reincarnation]] of the [[Virgin Mary]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Hargett|first=Malea|date=6 October 2007|title=Six Arkansas nuns excommunicated for supporting heresy: women operate Hot Springs day care|website=arkansas-catholic.org|location=Little Rock, Arkansas|publisher=Arkansas Catholic|url=http://www.arkansas-catholic.org/news/article/1013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324004547/http://www.arkansas-catholic.org/news/article/1013|archive-date=24 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In an April 2007 address to chaplains, Archbishop Amato denounced [[Homosexuality and Roman Catholicism|same-sex marriage]] and [[abortion]] and criticized the Italian media's coverage of them, saying that they are evils "that remain almost invisible" due to media presentation of them as "expression of human progress".<ref>{{Cite news|first=Philip|last=Pullella|title=Gay marriage evil, abortion terrorism: Vatican|date=23 April 2007|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070423/wl_nm/pope_gays_dc|agency=Reuters|access-date=23 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426054130/http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070423/wl_nm/pope_gays_dc <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=26 April 2007}}</ref>
* "Notification on the works of the Reverend Father [[Jon Sobrino]], SJ" (with an explanatory note; 26 November 2006)
* "Notification regarding the book ''Jesus Symbol of God'' of the Reverend Father [[Roger Haight]], SJ"
* "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the collaboration of men and women in the Church and in the world" (31 May 2004)
* "Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life" (with two commentaries from Cardinals [[Joachim Meisner]] and [[Giacomo Biffi]]; 24 November 2002)<ref>{{cite web|author=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|date=24 November 2002|title=Doctrinal note on some questions regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life|website=vatican.va|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20021124_politica_en.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030407170449/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20021124_politica_en.html|archive-date=7 April 2003|url-status=live}}</ref>
* "[[Homosexuality and Roman Catholicism|Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons]]" (3 June 2003)<ref>{{cite web|title=Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html|work=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|publisher=The Vatican|access-date=2 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613085642/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html|archive-date=13 June 2016}}</ref>
* "Note on the Force of the Doctrinal Decrees Concerning the Thought and Work of the Reverend Father [[Antonio Rosmini Serbati]]" (1 July 2001)
* "Notification on the book ''Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism'' by the Reverend Father [[Jacques Dupuis (Jesuit)|Jacques Dupuis]], SJ" (with commentary; 24 January 2001)

=== 1991–2000 ===

* "Notification concerning some writings of Professor Dr. {{ill|Reinhard Meßner|de|lt=Reinhard Messner"}} (30 November 2000)
* {{lang|la|[[Dominus Iesus]]}} (Declaration on the unicity and salvific universality of Jesus Christ and the Church; with comments from Congregation officials; 6 August 2000)<ref>{{cite web|author=Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith|title=Dominus Iesus|website=vatican.va|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411015820/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html|archive-date=11 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* "Notification regarding Sister [[Jeannine Gramick]], SSND, and the Reverend Father Robert Nugent, SDS"
* "Considerations on The Primacy of [[Pope|the Successor of Peter]] in the mystery of the Church" (31 October 1998)
* "Notification concerning the writings of the Reverend Father [[Anthony de Mello (Jesuit priest)|Anthony De Mello]], SJ" (24 June 1998)
* "Notification concerning the text ''Mary and Human Liberation'' by the Reverend Father [[Tissa Balasuriya]], OMI" (2 January 1997)
* "Notification on the writings and activities of Mrs. [[Vassula Ryden]]" (6 October 1995)
* "Decree on the doctrine and customs of the Association {{lang|la|[[Opus Angelorum]]|italic=no}}" (6 June 1992)

=== 1981–1990 ===

* {{lang|la|[[Orationis formas]]}} (Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on some aspects of Christian meditation; 15 October 1989)
* "Note regarding the moral rule of {{lang|la|[[Humanae vitae]]|italic=no}} ([[Pope Paul VI]]'s encyclical, On the Regulation and Control of Human Birth) and the pastoral duty" (16 February 1989)
* "Observation of the [[Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission]] (ARCIC) II's ''Salvation and the Church''" (18 November 1988)
* "Formula to be used for the profession of faith and for the oath of fidelity to assume an office to be exercised in the name of the Church" (1 July 1988)
* ''[[Donum vitae]]'' (Instruction on respect for life in its origin and on the dignity of procreation; 22 February 1987)
* {{lang|la|[[On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons|Homosexualitatis problema]]}} (Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of [[Homosexual]] Persons; 1 October 1986)
* "Notification on the book {{lang|nl|Pleidooi voor mensen in de Kerk}} (Nelissen, Baarn 1985) by the Reverend Father Professor [[Edward Schillebeeckx]], OP" (15 September 1986)
* "Letter to [[György Bulányi]] on certain writings attributed to him" (1 September 1986)
* "Notification on the book ''Church: Charism and Power: Essay on Militant Ecclesiology'' by [[Leonardo Boff]], OFM" (11 March 1985)

== Leadership ==
{{Infobox official post|post=Cardinal Prefect|body=Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith|native_name=|insignia=Coat of arms of the Vatican City.svg|insigniasize=|insigniacaption=[[Coat of arms of the Holy See]]|insigniaalt=|flag=|flagsize=|flagalt=|flagborder=|flagcaption=|image=|imagesize=|alt=|incumbent=|acting=|incumbentsince=|department=Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith|style=[[His Eminence]]|type=|status=|abbreviation=|member_of=[[Roman Curia]]|reports_to=[[Pope|The Pope]]|residence=|seat=|nominator=|appointer=[[Pope|The Pope]]|appointer_qualified=|termlength=Five years, renewable|termlength_qualified=|constituting_instrument=''Licet ab initio''<br />''[[Pastor bonus]]''<br />''[[Praedicate evangelium]]''|precursor=|formation=21 July 1542|first=[[Pope Pius V|Antonio Michele Ghislieri]]|last=|abolished=|succession=|unofficial_names=|deputy=|salary=|website=|footnotes=}}

=== Secretaries until 1965 ===
When the Supreme Sacred Congregation for the Roman and Universal Inquisition was first established in 1542, it was composed of several Cardinal Inquisitors styled as "Inquisitors-General", who were formally equal to each other, even if some of them were clearly dominant (e.g. Cardinal Gian Pietro Carafa from 1542, who was elected Pope Paul IV in 1555). Until 1968 the Pope himself presided over the Congregation. However, from 1564 the daily administration of the affairs of the Congregation was entrusted to the Cardinal Secretary.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mayer|first=Thomas F.|year=2013|title=The Roman Inquisition: a papal bureaucracy and its laws in the age of Galileo|location=Philadelphia|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|isbn=978-0-8122-4473-1|page=14}}</ref><ref name="Black 2009 pp19-26">{{cite book|last=Black|first=Christopher|year=2009|title=The Italian Inquisition|location=New Haven [u.a.]|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-11706-6}}</ref>{{rp|pages=19–26}} This model was retained when the Inquisition was formally renamed as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office in 1908.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-x/la/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-x_apc_19080629_sapienti-consilio-index.html#Congregatio_Sancti_Officii|title=Sapienti Consilio, Index (die 29 Iunii anno 1908) &#124; Pius X|website=www.vatican.va|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref>

Unless stated otherwise, the term of office ended with the officeholder's death.
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Name
!From
!Until
!Appointer
|-
|1
|[[Pope Pius V|Antonio Michele Ghislieri]]
{{small|''(elected as Pope Pius V; later canonized in 1712'')}}<ref name="Black 2009 pp19-26" />{{rp|page=118}}
|14 December 1564
|7 January 1566
|[[Pius IV]]
|-
|2
|[[Diego de Espinosa]]
|8 September 1566
|5 September 1572
|[[Pius V]]
|-
|3
|[[Scipione Rebiba]]
|8 April 1573
|23 July 1577
|[[Pius V]]
|-
|4
|[[Giacomo Savelli (died 1587)|Giacomo Savelli]]<ref name="Black 2009 pp19-26" />{{rp|page=118}}
|31 July 1577
|5 December 1587
|[[Gregory XIII]]
|-
|5
|[[Giulio Antonio Santori]]<ref name="Black 2009 pp19-26" />{{rp|page=118}}
|5 December 1587
|9 May 1602
|[[Sixtus V]]
|-
|6
|[[Pope Paul V|Camillo Borghese]]
{{small|''(elected as Pope Paul V)''}}<ref name="Black 2009 pp19-26" />{{rp|page=118}}
|9 June 1603
|16 May 1605
|[[Clement VIII]]
|-
|7
|[[Pompeio Arrigoni]]<ref name="Black 2009 pp19-26" />{{rp|page=118}}
|16 May 1605
|4 April 1616
| rowspan="2" |[[Paul V]]
|-
|8
|[[Giovanni Garzia Millini]]
|4 April 1616
|2 October 1629<ref name="Black 2009 pp19-26" />{{rp|page=118}}
|-
|9
|[[Antonio Marcello Barberini]]
|2 October 1629
|1 December 1633
| rowspan="2" |[[Urban VIII]]
|-
|10
|[[Francesco Barberini (seniore)|Francesco Barberini]]
|1 December 1633
|10 December 1679
|-
|11
|[[Cesare Facchinetti]]
|10 December 1679
|31 January 1683
| rowspan="2" |[[Innocent XI]]
|-
|12
|[[Alderano Cybo]]
|31 January 1683
|22 July 1700
|-
|13
|[[Galeazzo Marescotti]]
|22 July 1700
|1 January 1716
|[[Innocent XII]]
|-
|14
|[[Fabrizio Spada]]
|1 January 1716
|15 June 1717
| rowspan="3" |[[Clement XI]]
|-
|15
|[[Nicolò Acciaioli (cardinal)|Nicolò Acciaioli]]
|15 June 1717
|23 February 1719
|-
|16
|[[Francesco del Giudice]]
|25 February 1719
|10 October 1725
|-
|17
|[[Fabrizio Paolucci]]
|10 October 1725
|12 June 1726
| rowspan="2" |[[Pope Benedict XIII|Benedict XIII]]
|-
|18
|[[Pietro Ottoboni (cardinal)|Pietro Ottoboni]]
|14 June 1726
|29 February 1740
|-
|19
|[[Tommaso Ruffo]]
|29 August 1740
|16 February 1753
| rowspan="2" |[[Benedict XIV]]
|-
|20
|[[Neri Maria Corsini]]
|26 February 1753
|6 December 1770
|-
|21
|[[Giovanni Francesco Stoppani]]
|12 December 1770
|18 November 1774
|[[Clement XIV]]
|-
|22
|[[Luigi Maria Torregiani]]
|22 February 1775
|6 January 1777
| rowspan="2" |[[Pius VI]]
|-
|23
|[[Carlo Rezzonico (cardinal)|Carlo Rezzonico]]
|17 January 1777
|26 January 1799
|-
|24
|[[Leonardo Antonelli]]
|8 November 1800
|23 January 1811
| rowspan="2" |[[Pius VII]]
|-
|25
|[[Giulio Maria della Somaglia]]
|20 May 1814
|2 April 1830
|-
|26
|[[Bartolomeo Pacca]]
|5 April 1830
|19 April 1844
|[[Pius VIII]]
|-
|27
|[[Vincenzo Macchi]]
|25 April 1844
|30 September 1860
|[[Gregory XVI]]
|-
|28
|[[Costantino Patrizi Naro]]
|10 October 1860
|17 December 1876
| rowspan="2" |[[Pius IX]]
|-
|29
|[[Prospero Caterini]]
|21 December 1876
|28 October 1881
|-
|30
|[[Antonio Maria Panebianco]]
|30 March 1882
|25 January 1883
| rowspan="5" |[[Leo XIII]]
|-
|31
|[[Luigi Bilio|Luigi Maria Bilio]], CRSP
|25 January 1883
|30 January 1884
|-
|32
|[[Raffaele Monaco La Valletta]]
|15 February 1884
|14 July 1896
|-
|33
|[[Lucido Maria Parocchi]]
|5 August 1896
|15 January 1903
|-
|34
|[[Serafino Vannutelli]]
|16 January 1903
|30 December 1908{{efn|Resigned.}}
|-
|35
|[[Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro]]
|30 December 1908
|16 December 1913
| rowspan="2" |[[Pius X]]
|-
|36
|[[Domenico Ferrata]]
|3 January 1914
|10 October 1914
|-
|37
|[[Rafael Merry del Val]]
{{small|''(cause for canonization opened in 1953; titled [[Servant of God]] accordingly'')}}
|14 October 1914
|26 February 1930
|[[Benedict XV]]
|-
|38
|[[Donato Sbarretti]]
|4 July 1930
|1 April 1939
| rowspan="2" |[[Pius XI]]
|-
|39
|[[Francesco Marchetti-Selvaggiani]]
|30 April 1939
|13 January 1951
|-
|40
|[[Giuseppe Pizzardo]]
|16 February 1951
|12 October 1959
|[[Pius XII]]
|-
|41
|[[Alfredo Ottaviani]]
|7 November 1959
|7 December 1965
|[[John XXIII]]
|}

=== Prefects since 1965 ===
When Pope Paul VI changed the name of the dicastery on 7 December 1965, he changed the title of the cardinal in charge of the daily administration of the Congregation from Secretary to Pro-Prefect. He continued to reserve the title of Prefect to himself<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=8 August 2017|date=9 January 1968|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/01/09/77165078.pdf|title=Ottaviani Quits Post in Vatican; Croat, a Progressive, Is Named|first=Robert C.|last=Doty}}</ref> until 1968 when he relinquished his role as head of the Congregation and named a ''Prefect''.<ref name="Oxford Dict">{{cite book|access-date=8 August 2017|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fUqcAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA786|page=786|title=The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church|chapter=Holy Office|editor-first1=F.L.|editor-last1=Cross|editor-first2=E.A.|editor-last2=Livingstone|edition=Third|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=1997|isbn=9780192802903}} Revised 2005</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:center;"
! scope="col" |No.
! scope="col" style="border-right:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-left:none;" |Name
! scope="col" style="width:20%;" |From
! scope="col" style="width:20%;" |Until
! scope="col" style="width:20%;" |Appointer
|-
! scope="row" |1
|[[File:Alfredo_Cardinal_Ottaviani_–_edited.jpg|100x100px]]
|[[Alfredo Ottaviani]]
{{small|''Pro-Prefect''}}{{efn|Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, previously Secretary, continued to head the Congregation when it was renamed on 7 December 1965, and his title of Pro-Prefect was confirmed on 8 February 1966. Upon his retirement he was termed Prefect emeritus of the Congregation, and not Pro-Prefect emeritus.}}
{{small|(1890–1979)}}
|7 December 1965
|6 January 1968
| rowspan="2" |[[Paul VI]]
|-
! scope="row" |2
|[[File:Franjo_Šeper.jpg|100x100px]]
|[[Franjo Šeper]]
{{small|(1905–1981)}}
|8 January 1968{{efn|Since the appointment of Šeper in 1968, the head of the dicastery has the title of Prefect. The Pope no longer holds the office of Prefect of the CDF himself.<ref name="Oxford Dict" />}}
|25 November 1981
|-
! scope="row" |3
|[[File:Joseph_Ratzinger.jpg|100x100px]]
|[[Benedict XVI|Joseph Ratzinger]]
{{small|''(elected as Pope Benedict XVI)''}}
{{small|(1927–2022)}}
|25 November 1981
|2 April 2005{{efn|Death of Pope John Paul II}}
|[[John Paul II]]
|-
! scope="row" |4
|[[File:MF_2015_40_(16628518480)_(cropped).jpg|100x100px]]
|[[William Levada]]
{{small|(1936–2019)}}
|13 May 2005
|2 July 2012
| rowspan="2" |[[Benedict XVI]]
|-
! scope="row" |5
|[[File:HY_Gerhard_Ludwig_Müller.png|100x100px]]
|[[Gerhard Ludwig Müller]]
{{small|(b. 1947)}}
|2 July 2012
|2 July 2017<ref name="Crux 2017">{{cite news|url=http://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/07/01/pope-names-archbishop-succeed-cardinal-muller-doctrine-office/|work=Crux|access-date=1 July 2017|date=1 July 2017|title=Pope names Jesuit prelate to succeed Müller at doctrine office|agency=Catholic News Service|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701132216/https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/07/01/pope-names-archbishop-succeed-cardinal-muller-doctrine-office/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="La Croix 2017">{{cite news|url=http://international.la-croix.com/news/mller-hits-out-at-francis-says-the-way-pope-dismissed-him-was-unacceptable/5495|title=Müller hits out at Francis, says the way pope dismissed him was unacceptable|last=Pongratz-Lippitt|first=Christa|newspaper=[[La Croix International]]|access-date=8 July 2017|date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |6
|[[File:Prefecto_Mons._Ladaria.jpg|100x100px]]
|[[Luis Ladaria Ferrer]], [[Society of Jesus|SJ]]
{{small|(b. 1944)}}
|2 July 2017<ref name="Crux 2017" /><ref name="La Croix 2017" />
|1 July 2023<ref>{{Cite press release|date=1 July 2023|title=Resignations and Appointments, 01.07.2023|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/07/01/230701a.html|publisher=Holy See Press Office|access-date=1 July 2023}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |[[Pope Francis|Francis]]
|-
! scope="row" |7
|[[File:Víctor_Manuel_Fernández-(cropped).jpg|100x100px]]
|[[Víctor Manuel Fernández]]
{{small|(b. 1962)}}
|1 July 2023
|21 April 2025
|}

=== Secretaries since 1965 ===
With the December 1965 reorganization of the Holy Office as the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the head of the Congregation was no longer titled Secretary. The dicastery's second-in-command, until then titled assessor, was then given the title of Secretary, as was already the case with the other Roman Congregations. All but the most recent have been made archbishops upon their appointment. The following have held the title of Secretary:

* [[Pietro Parente]] (7 December 1965 – 29 June 1967)
* [[Paul-Pierre Philippe]], O.P. (29 June 1967 – 6 March 1973)
* [[Jean Jérôme Hamer]], O.P. (14 June 1973 – 8 April 1984)
* [[Alberto Bovone]] (5 April 1984 – 13 June 1995)
* [[Tarcisio Bertone]], S.D.B. (13 June 1995 – 10 December 2002)
* [[Angelo Amato]], S.D.B. (19 December 2002 – 9 July 2008)
* [[Luis Ladaria Ferrer]], S.J. (9 July 2008 – 2 July 2017)
* [[Giacomo Morandi]] (18 July 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/francis-names-italian-priest-gregorian-connection-doctrinal-congregations-deputy|title=Italian with Gregorian connection named doctrinal congregation's deputy|date=18 July 2017|website=National Catholic Reporter|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref> – 10 January 2022)<ref>{{cite press release|publisher=Holy See Press Office|access-date=15 February 2022|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2022/01/10/220110a.html|date=10 January 2022|title=Resignations and Appointments, 10.01.2022}}</ref>
* Archbishop [[John Joseph Kennedy]], (Disciplinary Section)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/07/29/240729a.html|title=Resignations and Appointments}}</ref><ref name="CNA 2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251044/pope-francis-names-secretaries-of-doctrinal-and-disciplinary-sections-of-cdf|title=Pope Francis names secretaries of doctrinal and disciplinary sections of CDF|access-date=8 June 2022|date=23 April 2022|publisher=Catholic News Agency}}</ref> and Armando Matteo (Doctrinal Section)<ref name="CNA 2022" /> (23 April 2022 – present)

== Present composition ==
{{Update|section|date=December 2023}}

* Cardinal-Prefect: [[Víctor Manuel Fernández]]
* Secretary for Discipline: Archbishop [[John Joseph Kennedy]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=|first1=|title=Monsignor John Kennedy appointed Archbishop-elect|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2024/0729/1462398-diocese-ossero-archbishop/|accessdate=July 30, 2024|publisher=[[RTÉ]]|date=July 29, 2024}}</ref>
* Secretary for Doctrine: [[It:Armando Matteo|Armando Matteo]]
* Adjunct Secretary: Archbishop [[Joseph Augustine Di Noia]], [[Order of Preachers|O.P.]]
* Adjunct Secretary: Archbishop [[Charles Scicluna]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/11/13/pope-taps-sex-abuse-reformer-for-key-vatican-role/|title=Pope taps sex abuse reformer for key Vatican role|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=13 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113203616/https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/11/13/pope-taps-sex-abuse-reformer-for-key-vatican-role/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Undersecretary: Fr. Matteo Visioli<ref>{{cite news|agency=Catholic News Agency|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/36800/pope-appoints-new-under-secretaries-to-cdf-and-congregation-for-clergy|access-date=11 December 2017|date=14 September 2017|first=Hannah|last=Brockhaus|title=Pope appoints new under-secretaries to CDF and Congregation for Clergy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unigre.it/zz2_applicazioni/framework_it.php?adg_utente=1633&adg_pgm=201|access-date=11 December 2017|publisher=Pontifical Gregorian University|title=Don Matteo Visioli|language=it}}</ref>
* Undersecretary: Archbishop [[Philippe Curbelié]]<ref>{{cite press release|access-date=6 July 2022|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2022/07/06/0520/01056.html|publisher=Holy See Press Office|date=6 July 2022|language=it|title=Rinunce e nomine, 06.07.2022}}</ref>
* Promoter of Justice: Fr. Robert J. Geisinger [[Society of Jesus|S.J.]]<ref>{{cite news|work=Vatican Radio|access-date=11 December 2017|title=Pope appoints U.S Jesuit to post of Promoter of Justice|date=9 October 2014|url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/10/pope_appoints_us_jesuit_to_post_of_promoter_of_justice/1106229}}</ref>
* 27 members{{cn|date=July 2023}}
* 28 Consultors (religious superiors and [[Canon lawyer|canon lawyers]]){{cn|date=July 2023}}
* Staff of 33 lay [[Theologian|theologians]]{{cn|date=July 2023}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Catholicism|Vatican City}}

* [[Inquisition]]
* ''[[Index Librorum Prohibitorum]]''
* [[Archive of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]]
* [[Strengthening Church Members Committee]], a Mormon organization which serves a similar role

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Official website|https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/index.htm}}
** [https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/doc_doc_index.htm Index of recent documents on doctrine]
** [https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/doc_dis_index.htm Index of recent documents on discipline]
** [https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/doc_sac_index.htm Index of recent documents on sacramental questions]

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