Pontifical university

A pontifical university or athenaeum is an ecclesiastical university established or approved directly by the Holy See, composed of three main ecclesiastical faculties (Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law) and at least one other faculty. These academic institutes deal specifically with Christian revelation and related disciplines, and the Church's mission of spreading the Gospel, as proclaimed in the apostolic constitution Sapientia christiana.^[1] As of 2018, they are governed by the apostolic constitution Veritatis gaudium issued by Pope Francis on 8 December 2017.

Quality and ranking

Pontifical universities follow a European system of study hour calculation, granting the baccalaureate, the licentiate, and the ecclesiastical doctorate. These ecclesiastical degrees are prerequisites to certain offices in the Roman Catholic Church, especially considering that bishop candidates are selected mainly from priests who are doctors of sacred theology (S.T.D.) or canon law (J.C.D.) and that ecclesiastical judges and canon lawyers must have at least the Licentiate of Canon Law (J.C.L.).^[2]

In 2003 the Holy See took part in the Bologna Process, a series of meetings and agreements between European states designed to foster comparable quality standards in higher education, and in the "Bologna Follow-up Group". Pope Benedict XVI established the Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of Quality in Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties (AVEPRO), an attempt to promote and develop a culture of quality within the ecclesiastical institutions and enable them to aim in developing internationally valid quality criteria.^[3]

Compared to secular universities, which are academic institutions for the study and teaching of a broad range of disciplines, ecclesiastical or pontifical universities are "usually composed of three principal ecclesiastical faculties, theology, philosophy, and canon law, and at least one other faculty. A pontifical university specifically addresses Christian revelation and disciplines correlative to the evangelical mission of the Church as set out in the apostolic constitution Sapientia christiana".^[4]^[3]

List of pontifical universities

Argentina

Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, Buenos Aires

Austria

International Theological Institute, Schloss Trumau
Pontifical Athenaeum, Heiligenkreuz Abbey, Heiligenkreuz

Belgium

Bolivia

The Royal and Pontifical Major University of Saint Francis Xavier of Chuquisaca

Brazil

Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas
Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia
Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte
Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, São Paulo
Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro^[5]
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre

Canada

Dominican University College, Ottawa
Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto
Regis College, Toronto
Saint Paul University, Ottawa

Chile

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago
Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso, Valparaíso

Colombia

Pontifical Bolivarian University, Medellín
Pontifical Xavierian University, Bogotá

Dominican Republic

Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santo Domingo, Santiago de Los Caballeros, and Puerto Plata.

Ecuador

Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito

France

Institut Catholique de Paris, Paris
Institut Catholique de Toulouse, Toulouse

Germany

Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Eichstätt & Ingolstadt
Munich University of Philosophy, Munich

Guatemala

Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala City

India

Ireland

St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Maynooth; Pontifical University charter 1896^[6]

Can grant pontifical degrees.

The Irish Dominican House of Studies (Studium) can grant pontifical degrees from the Angelicum, since 1971, originally from St. Mary's Priory but since 2000 from St. Saviour's Priory, Dublin.

Italy

(Pontifical Institutes and Faculties are listed in the Ecclesiastical Universities article, while here are the Pontifical Universities and Atheneum.)

Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm (Anselmianum), Rome
Pontifical Athenaeum Queen of the Apostles (Regina Apostolorum), Rome
Pontifical Gregorian University (Gregoriana), Rome
Pontifical Lateran University (Lateranensis), Rome
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce), Rome
Pontifical University of St. Anthony (Antonianum), Rome
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome
Pontifical Urbaniana University (Urbaniana), Rome
Salesian Pontifical University (Salesiana), Rome

Ivory Coast

Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Abidjan

Japan

Sophia University (Jochi), Tokyo

Kenya

Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi

Korea

Sogang University, Seoul

Lebanon

Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Kaslik
Saint Joseph University, Beirut

Mexico

Pontifical University of Mexico, Mexico City
Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico

Montenegro

Pontifical Catholic University of Montenegro, Kotor
Pontifical College of Benedict XVI, Nikšić

Panama

Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua, Panama City

Paraguay

Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Asuncion

Peru

Royal and Pontifical University of San Marcos (UNMSM)
Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Lima

Philippines

The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila

Poland

Pontifical University of John Paul II, Krakow

Portugal

Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon

Puerto Rico

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce

Spain^[7]

Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid
Pontifical University of Salamanca, Salamanca & Madrid
University of Navarra, Pamplona

Ukraine

Superior Institute of Religious Sciences of St. Thomas Aquinas, Kyiv; since 1992. An institution of higher education in Kyiv (Ukraine), conducted by the Dominican Friars of the Vicariate General of Ukraine and affiliated to the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).

United Kingdom

Mater Ecclesiae College, St Mary's University, Twickenham, London; since 2019.^[8]

United States

Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio

Uruguay

Universidad Católica del Uruguay Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga, Montevideo

Former pontifical universities

Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany, until the German Reformation in 1518
Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany, until the German Reformation in 1518
Lund Studium Generale, Lund, Sweden, until the Danish Reformation^[9]
Royal and Pontifical University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina, until 1856, during the presidency of Justo José de Urquiza
Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, until the Mexican War of Independence
Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy, until the Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1870.
Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva, Havana, Cuba, until its closure in 1961, after the Cuban Revolution
Universidad de San Ignacio, Manila, Philippines, until 1768, after the Expulsion of the Jesuits
Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (then in Haiti), until 1823, during the Unification of Hispaniola
University of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen, Scotland, until the Scottish Reformation
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, until the English Reformation
University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, until the French Revolutionary Wars
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, until the Danish Reformation
University of Erfurt, until the German Reformation
University of Freiburg, until the suppression of the Society of Jesus
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, until the Scottish Reformation
University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany, until the German Reformation
University of Mainz, until the French Revolutionary Wars
University of Oxford, Oxford, England, until the English Reformation
University of Paris, Paris, France, until the French Revolution in 1793
University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany, until the German Reformation
University of Saint Andrews, Saint Andrews, Scotland, until the Scottish Reformation
University of San Marcos, Lima, Peru, until the Peruvian War of Independence
University of Tübingen, until the German Reformation
University of Wittenberg, until the German Reformation
University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany, until the Napoleonic Wars
Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, until the Swedish Reformation
Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy, Dublin, Ireland. Pontifical Athenaeum (1968-2015)
Heythrop College, University of London; Bellarmine Institute, London, United Kingdom, until its closure 2018
Pontifical College of Saint Pius X of Đà Lạt, Đà Lạt, Việt Nam; officially closed in 1977 after the Fall of Saigon, confiscated by the government in 1980^[10]

Pontifical faculties

School of Theology and Religious Studies, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC^[11]
Theological Faculty, Catholic-Theological Private University Linz, Linz
Facoltà di Teologia di Lugano, Lugano^[12]
Marianum Theological Faculty, Rome
Pontifical Faculty at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (Mundelein Seminary), Mundelein, IL
Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception (PFIC), Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC
Wedabhakti Pontifical Faculty of Theology, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta

Pontifical colleges

A number of national Roman Colleges designated as Pontifical Colleges serve primarily as residence halls for seminarians sent by the bishops of a particular country to study there, such as the Belgian Pontifical College. They may also provide housing for priests pursuing advanced degrees. Students may take classes at the Gregorian, the Angelicum or other universities in Rome. In addition, other members of the clergy may reside there when in Rome.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ "AVEPRO". avepro.va. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
^ "The Pontifical Universities". vatican.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^ ^a ^b Agenzia della Santa Sede per la Valutazione e la Promozione della Qualità delle Università e Facoltà Ecclesiastiche (AVEPRO), http://www.avepro.va/ Archived 8 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 1 November. 2012
^ "Sapientia Christiana (April 15, 1979) | John Paul II". www.vatican.va. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
^ PUC-Rio
^ Pontifical University St. Patrick's College Maynooth
^ Voice:Europe/Spain
^ "Mater Ecclesiae College – Ecclesiastical Faculties at St Mary's University".
^ Denmark ruled Lund till the Great Northern War; Andrina Stiles (1992), Sweden and the Baltic, 1523–1721, London: Hodder & Stoughton.
^ "KỶ YẾU GIÁO HOÀNG HỌC VIỆN THÁNH PIÔ X ĐÀ LẠT - 50 năm nhìn lại (1958-2008)" (PDF). GIÁO HOÀNG HỌC VIỆN THÁNH PIÔ X ĐÀLẠT, VIỆT NAM. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
^ Pontifical Status, CUA
^ Offers the S.T.B., according to "Gradi accademici" (in Italian). Lugano, Switzerland: Faculty of Theology. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.

Sources

Matthew Bunson, ed. (2010). Catholic Almanac 2010. Our Sunday Visitor. pp. 546–550.

[1] "AVEPRO". avepro.va. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.

[2] "The Pontifical Universities". vatican.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.

[avepro.va-3] Agenzia della Santa Sede per la Valutazione e la Promozione della Qualità delle Università e Facoltà Ecclesiastiche (AVEPRO), http://www.avepro.va/ Archived 8 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 1 November. 2012

[vatican.va-4] "Sapientia Christiana (April 15, 1979) | John Paul II". www.vatican.va. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2011.

[5] PUC-Rio

[6] Pontifical University St. Patrick's College Maynooth

[7] Voice:Europe/Spain

[8] "Mater Ecclesiae College – Ecclesiastical Faculties at St Mary's University".

[9] Denmark ruled Lund till the Great Northern War; Andrina Stiles (1992), Sweden and the Baltic, 1523–1721, London: Hodder & Stoughton.

[10] "KỶ YẾU GIÁO HOÀNG HỌC VIỆN THÁNH PIÔ X ĐÀ LẠT - 50 năm nhìn lại (1958-2008)" (PDF). GIÁO HOÀNG HỌC VIỆN THÁNH PIÔ X ĐÀLẠT, VIỆT NAM. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

[11] Pontifical Status, CUA

[12] Offers the S.T.B., according to "Gradi accademici" (in Italian). Lugano, Switzerland: Faculty of Theology. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.

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v t e Pontifical universities and institutions of higher education in Rome
Universities	Angelicum Antonianum Gregoriana Lateranensis Salesianum Santa Croce Urbaniana
Athenaea	Anselmianum Regina Apostolorum
Faculties	Auxilium Marianum Seraphicum Teresianum
Institutes	Arab and Islamic Studies Christian Archaeology John Paul II Sacred Ambrosian Music Sacred Music
Autonomous institutes	Alphonsianum Augustinianum Biblicum Claretianum Orientalium
Academies	Life, Sciences, Social Sciences Dicastery for Culture and Education: Archaeology, Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon, Latin, Martyrs, Mary, St. Thomas Aquinas, Theology Abolished: Arcadia, Immaculate Conception
Other	Ecclesiastical Pastorale Universitaria Pontifical Colleges Sacred Liturgy
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