Cardinal prefect ( lat.cardinalis prefectus ) - the name of the head of a particular Congregation of the Roman Curia . Since the 16th century, the prefects of the Roman Congregations have always been in the dignity of the cardinal , with rare exceptions. The cardinal prefect is always a curial cardinal, that is, a cardinal in the service of the Roman Curia. Also, the title of cardinal prefect is held by the head of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature , if he is in the dignity of the cardinal. If the leader is not a cardinal, then he is called a pro-prefect, that is, an acting one.
Since February 2014, the head of the Secretariat for Economic Affairs of the Holy See also holds the title of Cardinal Prefect. Since August 2016, the heads of two Dikasteries: the Dikisteria on laity, family and life, and the Dikasteria on promoting holistic human development , also have the title of cardinal prefect.
The cardinal prefect is responsible for all matters within his curriculum and for his actions. The cardinal prefect is assisted by a secretary in the administration of the dikster , always in the rank of titular archbishop or bishop .
Heads of other institutions of the Roman Curia, such as the Pontifical Councils and Papal Commissions and Committees, are usually called chairpersons, regardless of whether they were elevated to the rank of cardinal or not. In the management and execution of their official powers, they have the same rights and duties as cardinal prefects. The head of the Apostolic Penitentiary is called the Cardinal Penitentiary.
Cardinal Prefects
As of July 1, 2018, the following cardinal prefects serve in the Roman Curia :
- Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer - ( Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith );
- Robert Sarah - ( Congregation of Divine Services and Discipline of the Sacraments );
- Giovanni Angelo Beccio - ( Congregation for the Canonization of Saints );
- Mark Walle - ( Congregation for the Bishops );
- Fernando Filoni - ( Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples );
- Benyamino Stella - ( Congregation for the Clergy );
- Juan Bras de Avis - ( Congregation for the Institutions of Dedicated Life and Apostolic Life Societies );
- Giuseppe Versaldi - ( Congregation for Catholic Education (seminaries and educational institutions) );
- Leonardo Sandry - ( Congregation for the Oriental Churches );
- Dominic Mamberti - ( Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature );
- George Pell - ( Secretariat for the Economics of the Holy See );
- Kevin Farrell - ( Dicaster on laity, family and life );
- Peter Tharkson - (A Dicaster for the Promotion of Holistic Human Development ).
The current Pope, at rest, Benedict XVI, until his election, was the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.