This Council looks to those things which will promote justice and peace in the world according to the gospel and the social teaching of the Church.

Pontifical Council Cor Unum (One Heart)

President: Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes
Secretary: Monsignor Karel Kasteel
Undersecretary: Monsignor Francisco Azcona San Martín

This Council shows the solicitude of the Catholic Church toward the needy, in order that human fraternity might be fostered and the charity of Christ be made manifest.

Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care
of Migrants and Itinerant People

President: Cardinals Stephen Fumio Hamao
Secretary: Archbishop Agostino Marchetto
Undersecretary: Father Michael A. Blume, S.V.D.

This Council directs the pastoral concern of the Church toward the special needs of those who are forced to leave their own native land or who perhaps lack one; it also sees that there is appropriate study of the questions which touch on this matter.

Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance
to Health-Care Workers

President: Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán
Secretary: Bishop José Luis Redrado Marchite, O.H.
Undersecretary: Father Felice Ruffini, M.I.

This Council shows the solicitude of the Church for the sick by aiding those who carry out a ministry toward the sick and suffering, in order that the apostolate of mercy, which they carry out, may ever more suitably respond to new needs.

Pontifical Council for the
Interpretation of Legislative Texts

President: Cardinal Julián Herranz
Secretary: Bishop Bruno Bertagna
Undersecretary: Monsignor Bernard A. Hebda

The function of this Council consists especially in interpreting the Church's laws, especially the Code of Canon Law.

Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

President: Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran
Secretary: Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata
Undersecretary: Monsignor Felix Anthony Machado

This Council fosters and moderates relations with members and bodies of religions which do not carry the name of Christian, as well as with those who in any way possess a religious spirit. It fosters studies and promotes relations with non-Christians to bring about an increase in mutual respect and seeks ways to establish a dialogue with them; it receives and carefully weighs the wishes of the Ordinaries; it provides for the formation of those who participate in dialogue.

Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims

President: Archbishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald, M. Afr.
Vice-President: Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata
Secretary: Father Khaled Akasheh

Pontifical Council for Culture

President: Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi
Secretary: Father Bernard Ardura, O.Praem.
Undersecretary: Father Fabio Duque JaramiIlo, O.F.M.

The Council embodies the Church's pastoral concern over the relationship between faith and cultures. Its tasks include: studying unbelief and religious indifference, as present in different cultures; supporting the Church's inculturation of the Gospel; promotion initiatives of dialogue between faith and culture, as well as dialogue with those who do not believe in God. Its activities include seminars, intercultural exchanges, and coordinating the activities of Pontifical Academies and the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church. An important hope of the Council is to show faith as the inspiration of science, literature and the arts.

Pontifical Council for Social Communications

President: Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli
Secretary: Bishop Pierfranco Pastore
Undersecretary: Doctor Angelo Scelzo

This Council is involved in questions touching on the instruments of social communication so that the proclamation of salvation and human progress might be promoted even through them in order to foster civil culture.