Congregation of the Propaganda

The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (Latin: Congregatio pro Gentium Evangelizatione) in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities. It is perhaps better known by its former title, the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide).

It was founded by Pope Gregory XV in 1622 to arrange missionary work on behalf of the various religious institutions, and in 1627 Pope Urban VIII established within it a training college for missionaries. It was renamed by Pope John Paul II in 1982 (largely because the word "propaganda" had been given a bad name by Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany) and its mission continues unbroken.

The early Congregation was established in the Palazzo Ferratini, donated by Juan Bautista Vives, to the south of the Piazza di Spagna. Two of the foremost artistic figures of Baroque Rome were involved in the development of the architectural complex; the sculptor and architect Gianlorenzo Bernini and the architect Francesco Borromini.

The current Prefect of the Congregation is Cardinal Fernando Filoni. The current Secretary is Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai from Hong Kong. The Adjunct Secretary (and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies) is Archbishop Protase Rugambwa. The Under-Secretary is Father Tadeusz Wojda, S.A.C.. The Archivist of the Archives of the Congregation is Bishop Luis Manuel Cuña Ramos. Monsignors Lorenzo Piva and Camillus Nimalan Johnpillai assist as Office Heads of the Congregation.

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