Unofficial Guide to the Vatican Web Site

NOTE: I am no longer at CMU, and am no longer updating these pages. Since the Vatican has recently reorganized their site, many of these links no longer work. You can still reach the top-level Vatican homepage at http://www.vatican.va/. This page will be going away entirely after August 2000.

The Vatican has unveiled a new Web site with lots of information, at www.vatican.va. Some Web browsers may have a problem with the site as it stands now, due to its dependence on frames and its bandwidth requirements. This page is designed to give quick, frameless access to many of the important English-language pages on the site.

This guide is not officially sponsored by the Vatican, but is simply meant to provide more convenient access to some of their pages. For definitive information and the most up-to-date links, use their site directly.

(Quick jumps: The Holy Father - The Roman Curia - News Services - The Vatican Museums - Jubilee 2000 - Archive)

New: The TOM Frame Service (TFS) is now used for certain links to 'unroll' the frame-oriented display into single, frameless HTML documents. You can even use it to browse the entire Vatican website. Let me know if you find it useful. The service is still under development, and may be unavailable at certain times.

Latest (as of February 25, 1999)
- Ecclesia in America (John Paul II's post-synodal exhortation)
- Message for Lent 1999
- Message for World Youth Day 1999
- Message for World Day of Peace 1999
The Holy Father
- John Paul II
  - Apostolic Constitutions (links are frame-dependent)
    - Ex Corde Ecclesiae (On Catholic Universities)
    - Fidei Depositum (On the Publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church)
    - Sacrae Disciplinae Leges (For the Promulgation of the New Code of Canon Law)
    - Sapientia Christiana (On Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties)
    - Universi Dominici Gregis (On the Vacancy of the Apostolic See and the Election of the Roman Pontiff)
  - Apostolic Exhortations (links are frame-dependent)
    - Catechesi Tradendae (On Catechesis in Our Time)
    - Christifideles Laici (On the Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful)
    - Ecclesia in Africa (On the Church in Africa)
    - Familiaris Consortio (On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World)
    - Pastores Dabo Vobis (On the Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of the Present Day)
    - Reconcilatio et Paenitentia (Reconciliation and Penance)
    - Redemptionis Donum (To Men and Women Religious on Their Consecration)
    - Redemptoris Custos (On St. Joseph)
    - Vita Consecrata (On the Consecrated Life)
    - Ecclesia in America (1999)
  - Apostolic Letters (links are frame-dependent)
    - A Concilio Constantinopolitano I (On the Anniversaries of Constantinople I and Ephesus)
    - Apostolic Letter for the 350 Years of the Union of Uzhorod
    - Apostolic Letter for the Fourth Centenary of the Union of Brest
    - Dies Domini (On Keeping the Lord's Day Holy; 1998)
    - Dilecti Amici (On the Occasion of International Youth Year)
    - Divini Amoris Scientia (proclaiming St. Therese a Doctor of the Church)
    - Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women)
    - Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone)
    - Orientale Lumen (On the Eastern Churches)
    - Salvifici Doloris (On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering)
    - Tertio Millennio Adveniente (On Preparation for the Jubilee)
  - Biography
    - Pre-Pontificate
    - Pontificate
  - Encyclicals (links are frame-dependent)
    - Centesimus Annus (On the 100th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum, 1991)
    - Dives in Misericordia (On the mercy of God, 1980)
    - Dominum et Vivificantem (On the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church and the World, 1986)
    - Evangelium Vitae (On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life, 1995)
    - Fides et Ratio (On the Relationship Between Faith and Reason, 1998)
    - Laborem Exercens (On Human Work, 1981)
    - Redemptor Hominis (The first encyclical of John Paul II, 1979)
    - Redemptoris Mater (On the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1987)
    - Redemptoris Missio (On the Church's Missionary Mandate, 1990)
    - Slavorum Apostoli (On the 11th Centenary of the Evangelization of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, 1985)
    - Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (On Social Concerns, 1987)
    - Ut Unum Sint (On Christian Unity, 1995)
    - Veritatis Splendor (On the Church's Moral Teaching, 1993)
  - Homilies (via TFS)
  - Letters (via TFS)
  - Messages (via TFS)
  - Motu Proprio (links are frame-dependent)
    - Ad Tuendam Fidem (To Protect the Faith, 1998)
    - Apostolos Suos (On the Theological and Juridical Nature of Episcopal Conferences, 1998)
    - Dolentium Hominum (Establishing the Pontifical Commission for the Apostolate of Health Care Workers, 1985)
    - Ecclesia Dei (On Abp. Lefebvre and the Latin Mass, 1988)
  - Speeches (via TFS)
  - Travels (via TFS)
    - 1999 Travels: Mexico and St. Louis
    - 1998 Travels: Croatia, Austria, Vercelli and Turin, Nigeria, Cuba
    - 1997 Travels: Rio de Janeiro (World Meeting for Families), Paris (World Youth Day), Poland, Lebanon, Sarajevo, Czech Republic
- John Paul I
  - Biography
  - Speeches
    - Address to a group of American Bishops, 21 Sep. 1978
    - Address to a group of Philippian Bishops, 28 Sep. 1978
- Paul VI
  - Biography
  - Encyclicals
    - Christi Matri (On Prayers for Peace During October, 1966)
    - Ecclesiam Suam (On the Church, 1964)
    - Humanae Vitae (On the Regulation of Birth, 1968)
    - Mense Maio (On Prayers During May for Preservation of Peace, 1965)
    - Mysterium Fidei (On the Holy Eucharist, 1965)
    - Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples, 1967)
    - Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (On the Celibacy of the Priest, 1967)
- John XXIII
  - Biography
  - Encyclicals
    - Ad Petri Cathedram (On Truth, Unity and Peace, In a Spirit of Charity; 1959)
    - Aeterni Dei Sapienta (Commemorating Pope St. Leo I; The See of Peter as the Center of Christian Unity; 1961)
    - Grata Recordatio (On the Rosary: Prater for the Church, Missions, International and Social Problems; 1959)
    - Mater et Magistra (On Christianity and Social Progress; 1961)
    - Pacem in Terris (On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity, and Liberty; 1963)
    - Paenitentiam Agere (On the Need for the Practice of Interior and Exterior Penance; 1962)
    - Princeps Pastorum (On the Missions, Native Clergy, and Lay Participation; 1959)
    - Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia (On St. John Vianney; 1959)
The Roman Curia
- Congregations
  - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (links are frame-dependent)
    - Profile
    - Communionis Notio (On Communion, 1992)
    - Responses to Questions Concerning Uterine Isolation and Related Matters (1993)
    - The Reception of the Holy Communion by the Divorced and Remarried Members of the Faithful (1994)
  - Congregation for the Causes of Saints
    - Profile
  - Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
    - Guide for Catechists (1993)
    - Pastoral Guide for Diocesan Priests in Churches Dependent on the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (1989)
  - Congregation for the Clergy (see also their own Web site)
    - Profile
    - General Directory for Catechesis (1997)
    - Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons: Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons (1998)
    - The Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest (1997)
    - 2nd International Reunion of Priests (Yamoussoukro, July 1997)
      - Presentation
      - Program
    - Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests (1994)
  - Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (links are frame-dependent)
  - Congregation for Catholic Education
- Pontifical Councils
  - Pontifical Council for the Laity (links are frame-dependent)
    - Profile
    - 12th World Youth Day, Paris, August 1997
    - The Presence of the Church in the University and in University Culture (1994)
  - Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (links are frame-dependent)
    - Profile
    - The Ecumenical Dimension in the Formation of Those Engaged in Pastoral Work, 1998
    - Prayer for Christian Unity, 1998
    - Common Christological Declaration between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, 1994
    - Directory for the Applications of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism, 1993 (If Vatican copy is cut off, see also an unofficial full copy at EWTN)
    - "Information Service" General Index, 1967-1991
  - Pontifical Council for the Family (links are frame-dependent)
    - Profile
    - 2nd World Meeting of the Holy Father with Families, October 1997
    - Preparation of the Sacrament of Marriage (1996)
    - The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality: Guidelines for Education Within the Family (1995)
    - Vademecum for Confessors Concerning Some Aspects of the Morality of Conjugal Life (1997)
  - Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
    - Profile
    - Towards a Better Distribution of Land (1997)
  - Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" (links are frame-dependent)
  - Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (links are frame-dependent)
    - Brief Profile
    - Origins and Ministry of the Council
    - Statements of Rv. Fr. Tomasi, Secretary of the Council
      - Geneva, 20 May 1995 (on refugees from the CIS/former USSR)
      - Geneva, 5 March 1996 (on refugees from Indochina)
    - Refugees: A Challenge to Solidarity (1992)
  - Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers (via TFS)
  - Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts
    - Profile
  - Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue
    - Profile
  - Pontifical Council for Culture (links are frame-dependent)
    - Profile
    - The Presence of the Church in the University (1994)
    - The Gospel as Good News for African Cultures (1998 symposium announcement)
  - Pontifical Council for Social Communications
    - Profile
    - Ethics in Advertising
- Synod of Bishops (links are frame-dependent)
- Pontifical Commissions
  - Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church
    - Profile
  - Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews
    - We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah (1998)
  - Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" (links are frame-dependent)
    - Profile
    - Ecclesia Dei (On Abp. Lefebvre and the Latin Mass, 1988)
- Institutions Connected with the Holy See
  - Vatican Apostolic Library
    - Profile
  - Vatican Publishing House
  - Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
- Labour Office of the Apostolic See
- Vatican City State
  - Telephone Services
- Pontifical Academies
  - Profiles
  - Pontifical Academy for Life
    - Third Plenary Assembly Concluding Document (1997)
    - Reflections on Cloning (1997)
News Services
- Press Office (some links are frame-dependent)
  - Daily Bulletin Archive
  - Vatican Information Service
- Newspaper (L'Osservatore Romano; some links frame-dependent)
  - Weekly edition in English
- Liturgy Office
- Vatican Radio
The Vatican Museums
- Profile
- Patrons of the Arts
Jubilee 2000
- Documents (links are frame-dependent)
  - Tertio Millennio Adveniente (Pope John Paul on preparation for the Jubilee)
  - History
  - Prayer for the second year of preparation 1998
  - Prayer for the first year of preparation 1997
- Calendar of events
  - The thematic structure of the three-year preparatory phase to the Holy Year
- Magazine (links are frame-dependent)
Archive
- Documents of the Second Vatican Council
  - Constitutions
    - Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation)
    - Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)
    - Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)
    - Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)
  - Declarations
    - Gravissimum Educationis (Declaration on Christian Education)
    - Nostra Aetate (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions)
    - Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom)
  - Decrees
    - Ad Gentes (Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church)
    - Presbyterorum Ordinis (Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests)
    - Apostolicam Actuositatem (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity)
    - Optatum Totius (Decree on Priestly Training)
    - Perfectae Caritatis (Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life)
    - Christus Dominus (Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops)
    - Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism)
    - Orientalium Ecclesiarum (Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite)
    - Inter Mirifica (Decree on the Media of Social Communications)

This guide is edited by John Mark Ockerbloom, editor of Catholic Resources on the Net.

John Mark Ockerbloom <spok+catholic@cs.cmu.edu>