Pope Francis Taps a Like-Minded Portuguese Cardinal to Head the New Dicastery for Culture and Education

National Catholic Register ^ | October 19, 2022 | Edward Pentin

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Pope Francis Taps a Like-Minded Portuguese Cardinal to Head the New Dicastery for Culture and Education

Cardinal José Mendonça is a published poet whose priestly service has centered on cultural dialogue and education, as well as ministry to homosexuals.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has chosen to head the Vatican’s newly merged department for education and culture a Portuguese poet close to Francis’ thinking, but who has also been criticized for sympathizing with heterodox approaches to homosexuality and allying himself with a radical feminist Benedictine sister who promotes abortion and same-sex “marriage.”

Cardinal José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça, 56, a native of the Portuguese island of Madeira, was appointed Sept. 26 to head the Dicastery for Culture and Education, a new curial department that brings together the former Congregation for Catholic Education and Pontifical Council for Culture. The two dicasteries were merged as part of the Roman Curia’s new apostolic constitution, Praedicate Evangelium (Preach the Gospel).

According to the constitution, as prefect Cardinal Mendonça’s tasks will include working with bishops worldwide to promote the teaching of the Catholic religion in schools, and ensuring that “the integrity of the Catholic faith is safeguarded in doctrinal teaching.” He will also be tasked with developing “the fundamental principles of education regarding schools, Catholic and ecclesiastical institutes of higher education and research.” 

As of 2020, Catholic universities number around 1,500 worldwide, while Catholic schools total approximately 200,000 serving 62.2 million students.

Cardinal Mendonça will also be in charge of promoting the Church in the world of culture, showing a “preference for dialogue as an indispensable tool of true encounter” so that “cultures may become ever more open to the Gospel, as likewise the Christian faith towards them.” The dicastery also “promotes dialogue with those who profess no religion ...

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...but who has also been criticized for sympathizing with heterodox approaches to homosexuality and allying himself with a radical feminist Benedictine sister who promotes abortion and same-sex “marriage.”

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