 The Pontifical Council for Culture is that department (Dicastery) of the Roman Curia which assists the Pontiff in the exercise of his supreme pastoral office for the benefit and service of the universal Church and of particular Churches concerning the encounter between the saving message of the Gospel and cultures, in the study of the weighty phenomena of: the rift between the Gospel and cultures; indifference in matters of religion; unbelief. It is also concerned with relationships between the Church and the Holy See and the world of culture; in particular it promotes dialogue with contemporary cultures, so that human civilisation may become increasingly open to the Gospel, and so that men and women of science, letters and the arts may know that the Church acknowledges their work as a service to truth, goodness and beauty.
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Pontifical Gregorian University |
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The Gregorian is the oldest of the pontifical universities. In 1551 St. Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), built the first Jesuit school in Rome called the Collegio Romano (Roman College). In 1584, at the Piazza Collegio Romano, Pope Gregory XIII blessed the new building which is still in use today. The University was named after its founder and protector, Pope Gregory XIII.
From the very beginning the Roman College has played a key role in scientific issues. An early example is the reform of the calendar, which became known as the Gregorian Calendar. Among its famed scientists was Christopher Clavius, one of the most influential 17th century mathematicians and friend of Galileo, who also was indebted to the Roman College for his own scientific formation.
Today, the Gregorian University has six faculties (Theology, Philosophy, Canon Law, History and the Cultural Patrimony of the Church, Missiology, Social Sciences), four institutes (Spirituality, Psychology, Religious Sciences, Religion and Culture), various centers, schools, and special programs of study.
At the Gregorian, studies are organized within the framework of the specialization in “Science and Philosophy”, which includes Licenciate (2 years) and the Doctorate. Each year is dedicated to one of its two main scientific areas – Physics and Biology, alternately. The philosophical portion of the specialization follows three strands: 1) a philosophy of science in the traditional sense; 2) inquiry into knowledge and particularly scientific knowledge with special attention given to new mechanisms of scientific explanation; and 3) a philosophy of nature that aims at a correct integration of present-day scientific issues with those of traditional philosophies. The Specialization is part of the Faculty of Theology and is inserted into the curriculum for the License in Philosophy.
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Pontifical University of the Holy Cross |
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 The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, established by the Holy See, was originally conceived in 1984 by Opus Dei who wanted to provide the universal Church with a tool for effective formation and research. It springs from the heart of Rome and welcomes priests, seminarians, religious and laity, men and women from dioceses around the world. The majority of teachers have both ecclesiastical and secular degrees and the teacher-student ratio is 1:9. Presently, there are four faculties: Theology (specializations in Dogmatic, Moral, and Spiritual, Church History, and Liturgy), Canon Law, Philosophy (specializations in Ethics and Anthropology, Metaphysics and Science), and Social Institutional Communication. It also has an Institute for Advanced Religious Studies. The Pius X Institute of Canon Law in Venice is affiliated with the Faculty of Canon Law.
The goal of the STOQ Project at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is to increase the competency of the teachers and students in the major topics in the debate between science and faith drawing the attention of the public especially young teachers and researchers in the scientific field. Particular emphasis is given to the epistemological dimension.
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Pontifical Lateran University |
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 The Lateran University offers study and research programs for the STOQ Project. Faith and reason are like two wings by which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth (Veritatis Splendor, 1).
The Project integrates two already existing Specialization programs in ‘Logic and Epistemology’ in the Faculty of Philosophy devoted to deepening the relationship between scientific and philosophical knowledge of reality; and ‘Science of Religions’ in the Faculty of Theology devoted to developing dialogue between religions.
This integration mainly consists in inviting several world renowned scholars of Science, Philosophy and Theology to give special courses, seminars and public lectures.
The
Lateran
University has its origins as far back as 1773. In 1853, the faculties of Canon Law and Civil law were established, The present campus was inaugurated by Pius IX in 1937. In 1959 it received status as a
Pontifical
University granted by John XXIII. Today there are four faculties at the University: Theology, Canon Law, Civil Law, and philosophy. Additionally, there are three institutes: the Pontifical Institute of Utriusque Iuris, the Pontifical Pastoral Institute Redemptor Hominis, and the Institute for Marriage and Family.
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Pontifical Regina Apostolorum |
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 The Pontifical Athenaeum “Regina Apostolorum” dates back to September 15, 1993. On July 11, 1998, John Paul II granted it the status of a Pontifical University. In February 1999, the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education joined the Faculty of Philosophy to the Institute of Our Lady of Thornwood in New York, giving it the ability to confer academic degrees after a two-year program in philosophy. Two months later, the Faculty of Theology was joined with the Institute for Religious Studies, to confer the academic status of Magisterium in Scientis Religiosis.
The Faculty of Bioethics was added in 2001, and the Major Seminary of Trujillo (Peru) affiliated with the Faculty of Theology the following year.
The Faculty of Philosophy at the Pontifical Athenaeum “Regina Apostolorum” offers a “Master of Science and Faith” in a two-year program. It is offered to those who have a strong interest in developing and deepening their theoretical and cultural competencies regarding the relationship between science and faith.
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Pontifical Salesian University |
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 The Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) began on May 3, 1940 as the Pontifical Salesian Athenaeum in Turin consisting of three faculties: Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law. By 1956 it had instituted the Superior Institute of Pedagogy and the Pontificium Institutum Altioris , the present-day Faculty of Education and of Christian and Classical Humanities. In September, 1965, the University relocated to Rome . On May 24, 1973 it achieved status as a Pontifical University . On May 27, 1998 the Institute of Communication of Social Science became the new Faculty of Communication of Social Science and on January 31, 2006 the new university library was dedicated. Presently, the Pontifical Salesian University is made up of 6 faculties: Theology, Education, Philosophy, Canon Law, Christian and Classical Humanities, and the Science of Social Communication. Each faculty is further subdivided into various institutes.
The University is a participating member of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC), of the Federation of Catholic European Universities (FUCE) and of the European Association of Universities (EUA). In the past several years, all the faculties of the University have been actively engaged in the restructuring of the curriculum in compliance with the European university reform.
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Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) |
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 The Angelicum is an institution dedicated to teaching and research which is sponsored by the Dominican Order in Rome. Its goal is to play a part in traditional Catholic teaching in the midst of contemporary society. Accepting the radical challenges, but not the compromises, the Angelicum forms modern disciples of St. Thomas Aquinas by following the direction of two of our most well-known alumni: M.D. Chenu, OP (medieval expert and precursor of Vatican Council II), J.M. Tillard, OP (Theologian and worker in the ecumenical movement) and K. Wojtyla (1978-2005) (extraordinarily charismatic Pope).
The Angelicum is composed of four faculties: Theology, Philosophy, Canon Law and Social Science. Programs of study in Theology and Philosophy are offered in both Italian and English.
As a participating university in the STOQ Project, the Angelicum seeks to make its own contribution to research and teaching both in the field of Natural Philosophy as well as Natural Theology. Taking up a tradition that goes back to Albert the Great and the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelicum believes that it is important to strengthen the bonds of Philosophy, Science and Theology to create a vision that, while allowing for diversity, presents a united method of teaching and discipline in the various subjects.
The aim of the program is to offer courses that permit students and future doctors to be active in and capable of valuable contribution to current debates between theologians, philosophers and scientists.
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The University of Notre Dame Reilly Center |
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 The University of Notre Dame John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values is commited to promoting research on science and technology as human, knowledge producing institutions. It seeks to study the variety of ways in which these institutions affect society, and this from a variety of perspectives, including those of the historian, the philosopher, and the social and natural scientist.
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