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{{Short description|Academic honorary society established by or under the direction of the Holy See}}
{{Roman Catholicism}}
A '''pontifical academy''' is an academic [[Learned society|honorary society]] established by or under the direction of the [[Holy See]]. Some were in existence well before they were accepted as "Pontifical."

==List==
There are ten Pontifical academies headquartered at the Vatican in Rome. 

* The [[Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon]] or  {{lang|it|Pontificia Insigne Accademia di Belle Arti e Letteratura dei Virtuosi al Pantheon}} in [[Italian language|Italian]] was established in 1542. Its purpose is to study, cultivate, and perfect the fine arts.
* The [[Pontifical Academy of Sciences]] or {{lang|it|Pontificia Accademia delle Scienze}} was founded in 1603 to honor and promote research.
* The [[Pontifical Academy of Theology]] or {{lang|it|Pontificia Accademia di Teologia}}, founded in 1718, promotes the Catholic faith.
* The [[Pontifical Academy of Archaeology]] or {{lang|it|Pontificia Accademia Romana di Archeologia}}, founded in 1810, promotes [[Christian archeology]] and the history of [[Christian art]].
* The [[Pontifical Academy of Martyrs]] or {{lang|la|Pontificia Academia Cultorum Martyrum}} dates from 1879 and promotes the veneration of the martyrs and the study of the [[catacombs]].
* The [[Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas]] or {{lang|it|Pontificia Accademia di San Tommaso d'Aquino}}, founded in 1879, promotes the study of [[Thomism]].
* The [[Pontifical Academy of Mary]] or {{lang|la|Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis}} was established in 1946 and promotes [[Mariology]].
* The [[Pontifical Academy for Life]] or {{lang|it|Pontificia Accademia Pro Vita}} was founded in 1994 to promote the [[consistent life ethic]] of the Roman Catholic Church; it was formerly headed by [[Bishop]] [[Elio Sgreccia]], and now by [[Archbishop]] [[Rino Fisichella|Salvatore Fisichella]], former rector of the [[Pontifical Lateran University]].
* The [[Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences]] or {{lang|it|Pontificia Accademia delle Scienze Sociali}}, founded 1994, promotes social, economic, political, and legal sciences in the light of the church's social teachings.
* The [[Pontifical Academy for Latin]], also {{lang|la|Pontificia Academia Latinitatis}} or {{lang|it|Pontificia Accademia di Latinità}} was established in 2012 for the dissemination and education of [[Latin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pontifical Academies - Index |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/index.htm |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>

==Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy==
The [[Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy]], an institution for the training of Catholic clergy to serve as [[apostolic nuncio]]s, pro-nuncios or papal delegates, is not one of the pontifical academies, but is one of the [[Roman Colleges]].<ref>The Dictionary of Popes and the Papacy, Crossroad Publishing Co. NY</ref>

==See also==
* [[Global organisation of the Catholic Church]]
* [[Index of Vatican City-related articles]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/index.htm Pontifical Academies - Website of the Holy See]
* [http://www.pas.va The website of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences]

{{Pontifical universities in Rome}}
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{{Orders, decorations, and medals of the Holy See}}
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[[Category:Pontifical academies| ]]