Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is a dicastery of the Roman curia.
The Vatican announced the creation of the dicastery on 31 August 2016 and it became effective 1 January 2017. Cardinal Peter Turkson was named its first prefect. The Prefect is to be assisted by a Secretary and at least one Undersecretary.
On 21 December 2021, members of the dicastery's leadership submitted their resignations in anticipation of the end of their five-year mandate in January. Pope Francis accepted them. On 23 December 2021, Pope Francis named Cardinal Michael Czerny and Sister Alessandra Smerilli Interim Prefect and Secretary, respectively, of the dicastery, beginning 1 January 2022. On 23 April 2022, Francis named the two as the official Prefect and Secretary, giving them a five-year mandate.
Description
This dicastery of the Roman Curia combined the work of four Pontifical Councils established following the Second Vatican Council: Justice and Peace, Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, and Cor Unum. Pope Francis has given it responsibility for "issues regarding migrants, those in need, the sick, the excluded and marginalized, the imprisoned and the unemployed, as well as victims of armed conflict, natural disasters, and all forms of slavery and torture".On 16 June 2017 the Pope named Bruno Marie Duffé, a French professor with long experience in human rights and relief work, the dicastery's Secretary. Fr. Nicola Riccardi and Msgr. Segundo Tejado Muñoz were named undersecretaries, on 8 July 2017.