School of Canon Law

Diritto Canonico

The School of Canon Law strives to prepare canonists with a deep theoretical and practical knowledge of Church law, which helps them develop legal skills with pastoral sensibility, while meeting the practical demands of legal praxis among God's people.

English brochure


Teaching follows a systematic method. It attempts to integrate the many juridical institutions emerging from the study of the Church’s Law within the diverse branches of canonical science. All this, in conformity with the Church’s vision of herself as expressed in the Second Vatican Council.

The program’s realist perspective helps the student to appreciate the dimension of justice that belongs to the salvific goods of the Church even prior to their reception in positive law.  This metaphysical realism offers a much richer viewpoint than the old positivistic outlook, which still influences some currents of canonical thought.  Students learn to seek justice while exercising legal prudence in fidelity to sound ecclesiastical tradition.
The program integrates theoretical study with courses on legal praxis.

The School has a large number of permanent professors as well as many prestigious visiting professors from the Roman Curia and from all over the world.

The School’s research and teaching are enriched by the staff’s experience in various dicasteries of the Holy See and in the Tribunals of the Vicariate of Rome. Close links to and regular academic collaboration with colleagues from other universities of Rome and of other countries also enrich the School, along with the theological research and collaboration of the School of Theology.

 

Sezione: 

In evidenza

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of our University, the Academic Community, in its various expressions, expressed the desire to identify a new institutional motto that would adequately reflect the mission and vision of the Holy Cross.

In May 2024, several proposals were presented within the Academic Senate. Subsequently, in a spirit of openness, all teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as students, were invited to express their preference through a digital form. Following this consultation and considering the preferences received, the following definitive proposal was approved: Omnes traham ad meipsum.

On Thursday, January 9, 2025, the School of Canon Law celebrated its patron saint, Saint Raymond of Penyafort, with a Jubilee pilgrimage to the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

Following this, the group visited the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Students and professors were welcomed by the Prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, and the Secretary, Archbishop Fabio Fabene.

From February 19th to May 28th, 2025, every Wednesday from 3:00 PM to 4:40 PM, the Schools of Theology and Canon Law are organizing an optional course (3 ECTS) entitled Ecclesial Movements: A Journey of Faith. The Service of Ecclesiastical Law.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes (1965) and as a path of reflection towards the centenary of the founding of Opus Dei (1928-2028), the University is organizing a three-year program of in-depth study, which includes two seminars and an expert meeting each year.

The scheduled events for this academic year, which will focus on The Meaning of Work and Human Activity in the Universe, are as follows:

  • Monday, October 14, 2024 (3:00 PM - Álvaro del Portillo Hall)

Theology of Earthly Realities and Gaudium et Spes
Claudio Tagliapietra - discussant Pilar Río

 

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