What is the Curia Romana?

   The Curia Romana is the central body of officials that aids the Pope in governing the Roman Catholic Church. The Curia is made up of 9 congregations, 5 secretariats, 3 tribunals, and 6 offices. Cardinals hold major posts and lesser officials provide advice and assistance. The congregations oversee worship, doctrine, and morals and supervise the clergy. Matrimonial cases and questions of conscience and canon law are settled by the tribunals, or courts. The officers include the secretariat of state to handle public, or foreign, affairs and standing committees to write papal bulls, or letters, and administer Church property.