Apostolic
Constitution on the Roman Curia
Excerpts on the Pontifical Council for the
Health Care Apostolate
21 June 1988
Introduction
The Constitution is entitled Pastor Bonus, referring to Christ, who
conferred upon the Bishops as Successors of the Apostles the mission of
preaching the Gospel. It was promulgated on June 28, eve of the Feast of the
Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
The Constitution is composed of the following
parts: Introduction, General Norms, Secretariat of the State, Congregations,
Tribunals, Pontifical Councils, Offices, Other Organisms of the Curia,
Advocates, Institutions united to the Holy See, and two annexes, on Ad Limina
visits and employees of the Holy See.
After stressing the Church’s sense of service, diaconate, and communion, the Constitution points out the
finality of the Roman Curia: to increase the effectiveness of the universal
action of the Pastor of the Church which Christ entrusted to Peter and his
Successors. The Roman Pontiff calls and takes on many collaborators for this
great responsibility.
The principles inspiring the promulgation of
the present Constitution are the following: the demands and changes taking
place in recent years, adaptation to the new code of Canon Law, improvement of
the service of the long-established Departments, and consideration of the role
and work of the so-called "postconciliar"
Offices, which carry out specific pastoral activities claiming the pastors’
concern and demanding swift, sure decisions (no. 13)
Following is the Text of the Constitution
Referring to the Pontifical Council for Health Care Apostolate
Art.
152
The
Pontifical Council manifests the Church’s concern for the sick, assisting those
who perform a service for the ill and the suffering, so that the apostolate of
mercy they carry out will increasingly respond to new demands.
Art. 153
§ 1. It is
up to the Pontifical Council to make known the Church’s doctrine on the
spiritual and moral aspects of illness and the meaning of human pain.
§ 2. It
offers its collaboration to the local Churches so that health care workers may
receive spiritual assistance in the performance of their activities in
accordance with Christian doctrine and also so that those engaged in pastoral
work in this field will not lack adequate aids in fulfilling their mission.
§ 3. It
favors the theoretical and practical activities carried out in this area in
different ways by both international Catholic organizations and other
institutions.
§ 4. It
closely follows legislative and scientific developments related to health, for
the principal purpose of ensuring they will be duly taken into consideration in
the pastoral work of the Church.
The changes involving the Pontifical Council
are as follows:
The name: "Pontifical Council" replaces the previous
designation, "Pontifical Commission."
Autonomy: The Pontifical Council for the Health Care
Apostolate enjoys complete autonomy under the new Constitution.
The functions of our Pontifical Council are
indicated in articles 152 and 153 of the new Constitution, which in turn
summarize those already specified in Motu Proprio Dolentium Hominum (no. 6).