The Pontifical Biblical Commission (Latin: Pontificia Commissio Biblica) is a pontifical commission established within the Roman Curia to ensure the proper interpretation and defense of the Bible.
Since 1988, it has been closely attached to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, whose prefect heads the Commission. In March 2022, Pope Francis reaffirmed that relationship with his apostolic constitution Praedicate evangelium, effective 5 June 2022, even as it changed the Congregation's name to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.[1]
The Pontifical Biblical Commission was established as a committee of cardinals, aided by consultors, who met in Rome to ensure the proper interpretation and defense of Sacred Scripture. This function was outlined in the encyclicalProvidentissimus Deus.
The first appointments to the commission were in August, 1901, but it was not formally established by Pope Leo XIII until October 30, 1902, with the Apostolic LetterVigilantiae Studiique.[2] The first commission was composed of three cardinals and 12 consultors.
The consultors met twice a month, with secretaries present. The secretaries reported to the cardinals on the commission, who met on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. The cardinals proposed questions for the consultors to consider and voted on the answers received from the consultors. The cardinals could send questions back to the consultors for further study, commission a single consultor to investigate a matter more deeply, or sanction or modifying the study results. If a decision was reached, the secretaries reported to the Pope, who could send the matter back for further study, or ratify the results of the study.
The duties of the commission were:
to protect and defend the integrity of the Catholic Faith in Biblical matters
to further the progress of exposition of the Sacred Books, taking account of all recent discoveries
to decide controversies on grave questions which might arise among Catholic scholars
to give answers to Catholics throughout the world who may consult the commission
The members are Catholic biblical scholars proposed by the Bishops' Conferences. In 2014 Pope Francis appointed women to the commission for the first time, including Mary Healy.[9]
↑ John Paul II (1988). "Article 55,". Apostolic Constitution, 'Pastor Bonus'. Translated by Francis C.C.F. Kelly; James H. Provost; Michel Thériault. Retrieved March 1, 2007.
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