The Dicastery for Communication oversees the entire communications network of the Apostolic See and, with structural unity and respecting the relative operational characteristics, unifies the Holy See’s activities in the area of communication. It does so in order that the whole system responds in an integrated way to the needs of the Church’s evangelizing mission in a context characterized by the presence and development of digital media, and by the factors of convergence and interactivity.

The Dicastery meets the needs of the Church’s evangelizing mission through the use of production models, technological innovations and forms of communication currently available and those that may yet emerge.

In addition to the operational functions assigned to it, the Dicastery also deepens and develops the properly theological and pastoral aspects of the Church’s activity in the field of communication. In this sense, it also works on the level of training, in order that communication not be reduced to purely technological and instrumental concepts.

It pertains to the Dicastery to ensure that the faithful become increasingly aware of their own responsibility to commit themselves to the task of making the multiple means of communication available to the Church’s pastoral mission, in service to the growth of civilization and morality. It especially seeks to develop this awareness through the celebration of World Communications Day.

In its activities, the Dicastery makes use of the connectivity and network infrastructures of Vatican City State, in accordance with the particular legislation and international commitments undertaken by the Holy See. In fulfilling its functions, it cooperates with the competent curial institutions and in particular with the Secretariat of State.

The Dicastery is to support the communication activities of other curial institutions and offices, institutions associated with the Holy See, the Governorate of Vatican City State, and other entities based in Vatican City State or depending on the Apostolic See.

[Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, 19 march 2022]

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DICASTERY FOR COMMUNICATION
Dicasterium pro Communicatione

On 27 June 2015 Pope Francis established the Secretariat for Communication in his Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio on the current context of communications. The new Dicastery of the Roman Curia has the task of the overall restructuring, reorganization and consolidation of "all of the realities which, in various ways up to the present have dealt with communications" in order to "respond ever better to the needs of the mission of the Church". In this light the Holy See's communications system is being reevaluated.

Through this restructuring the Apostolic See can refer to the Secretariat as the single point of reference for communication, which has become increasingly complex and interdependent, reflecting the current media reality.

The entities involved include the:

• Vatican Television Center
• Vatican Publishing House
• L'Osservatore Romano
• Pontifical Council for Social Communications
• Vatican Radio
• Holy See Press Office
• Photographic Service
• Vatican Internet Service
• Vatican Printing Press

The entities above will be merged according to an established calendar and, in the meantime, continue to  carry out their own activities now under the direction of the Secretariat for Communication.

In his Motu Proprio, the Holy Father also noted that, in agreement with the Secretariat of State, the new Dicastery assumes responsibility  for the Holy See’s institutional website: www.vatican.va, and the Twitter service of the Supreme Pontiff: @pontifex.

Dicastery for Communication

Via della Conciliazione, 5
00120 Città del Vaticano
tel: +39 06 69891800