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While all Episcopal Sees can be referred to as holy sees, the term Holy See is normally used in international relations (as well as in the Canon Law Of The Catholic Church ) to refer to the central government of the Catholic Church , headed by the Bishop Of Rome , commonly called the Pope . Ambassadors are officially accredited to "the Holy See", and its representatives to states and international organizations are recognized as representing "the Holy See". It is in this sense that the term "Holy See" is used in this article. ORGANIZATION The Pope governs the Catholic Church through the Roman Curia . The Roman Curia consists of the Secretariat Of State , nine Congregations , three Tribunal s, 11 Pontifical Councils, a complex of offices that administer church affairs at the highest level. The Secretariat of State, under the Cardinal Secretary of State, directs and coordinates the Curia. The current incumbent, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone , is the See's equivalent of a prime minister. Archbishop Dominique Mamberti , Secretary of the Section for Relations With States of the Secretariat of State acts as the Holy See's foreign minister. Bertone and Mamberti have been named in their respective roles under by Pope Benedict XVI in September 2006. Among the most active of the major Curial institutions are the Congregation For The Doctrine Of The Faith , which oversees the Catholic Church's doctrine; the Congregation For Bishops , which coordinates the appointment of bishops worldwide; the Congregation For The Evangelization Of Peoples , which oversees all missionary activities; and the Pontifical Council For Justice And Peace , which deals with international peace and social issues. Three tribunals are responsible for judicial power. The Sacra Rota is responsible for normal appeals, including decrees of nullity for marriages, with the Apostolic Signatura being the administrative court of appeal and highest ecclesiastical court. The Apostolic Penitentiary is different from those two and, instead of dealing with contentious cases, issues absolutions, dispensations, and indulgences. The Prefecture for Economic Affairs coordinates the finances of the Holy See departments and supervises the administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, an investment fund dating back to the Lateran Pacts . A committee of 15 cardinals, chaired by the Secretary of State, has final oversight authority over all financial matters of the Holy See, including those of the Institute for Works of Religion, the Vatican Bank . The Prefecture Of The Papal Household is responsible for the organization of the papal household, audiences, and ceremonies (apart from the strictly liturgical part). The Holy See does not dissolve upon a Pope's death or resignation. It instead operates under a different set of laws '' Sede Vacante ''. During this interregnum, the heads of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia (such as the prefects of congregations) cease immediately to hold office, the only exceptions being the Major Penitentiary , who continues his important role regarding absolutions and dispensations, and the Cardinal Camerlengo , who administers the temporalities (''i.e.'', properties and finances) of the See of St. Peter during this period. The government of the See, and therefore of the Catholic Church, then falls to the College Of Cardinals . Canon Law prohibits the College and the Camerlengo from introducing any innovations or novelties in the government of the Church during this period. DIPLOMACY |
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