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

The School of Canon Law of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross wishes to remember Professor Gaetano Lo Castro with a Mass for the repose of his soul, on the occasion of his thirtieth anniversary, on February 29th, at 7:00 PM, in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare (located at Piazza di Sant'Apollinare in Rome). Those who wish to concelebrate are kindly requested to send a message to fpuig [at] pusc.it.

On January 29, 2024, Professor Gaetano Lo Castro passed away in Catania after several months of illness. He was a visiting scholar at the School of Canon Law continuously since 1985 and an emeritus professor of Canon Law and Ecclesiastical Law at the University of Rome "La Sapienza."

On Friday, January 26, 2024, our University hosted a group of 48 students from a French classical high school in Andorra who made a stop in Rome during an organized trip around Italy.

The Ambassador of Andorra to the Holy See suggested that the students undertake a special visit to our institution, which welcomed them with enthusiasm and hospitality.

This year as well, the Embassy of France to the Holy See and the Pious Establishments of France in Rome and Loreto are offering 50 scholarships for the French language.

The initiative includes a one-month stay (July or August) in Paris, at the Institut Catholique.

The call is open to students of any nationality - priests and seminarians, nuns and monks, laymen and laywomen - who wish to enhance their proficiency in French for their study projects, research work, professional or pastoral endeavors. The minimum required French proficiency level is A2.

Applications are open until February 25th.

For further information

Starting from this academic year, our University has introduced multimedia interactive whiteboards in classrooms A209 (second floor) and A305 (third floor) for use by both faculty and students.

The new equipment will enable traditional lectures to be conducted with the aid of advanced technology. Simultaneously, interactive hybrid classes (in-person and streaming) can be facilitated.

The provision of these whiteboards will also allow for the recording of lectures and courses, which can be later disseminated to a broader audience.

This initial investment, currently in the experimental phase, may be expanded over time to include other classrooms. It positions the University of the Holy Cross as technologically advanced and a pioneer in such innovation among the other Pontifical Roman Universities.

The project is coordinated by the Department of Educational Resources, under the supervision of the Academic Vice-Rector.

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