The
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life () is the
congregation of the
Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns
institutes of consecrated life (
orders and religious congregations, both of men and of women,
secular institutes) and
Society of Apostolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and privileges.
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has its origins in the "Sacred Congregation for Consultations about Regulars" founded by
Pope Sixtus V on May 27, 1586. its name was changed in 1908 to the
Congregation of the Affairs of Religious, its name was again changed to the
Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes in 1967 by
Pope Paul VI and finally to its current name by
Pope John Paul II.
The current Prefect is Archbishop
João Bráz de Aviz. The current Secretary is Archbishop
Joseph William Tobin,
C.SS.R., who was the former superior-general of the Redemptorists. There are two Undersecretaries of the Congregation, Sister
Enrica Rosanna,
F.M.A. (the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in any post of the
Roman Curia), and Father
Sebastiano Paciolla,
O.Cist.
Cardinal Prefects since 1899
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