Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
Diplomatic Academy
| Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy link () | |
|---|---|
 The entrance of the Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica. The coat of arms on the left is that of Cardinal Sodano, Cardinal Protector of the PEA. | |
| Formation | 1701 |
| Headquarters | Rome,Italy |
| Academy is dedicated to training priests to serve in the diplomatic corps and the Secretariat of State of the Holy See. | |
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy is one of the Roman Colleges of the Catholic Church. The academy is dedicated to training priests to serve in the diplomatic corps and the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.
Function
Located inside Palazzo Severoli on the Piazza della Minerva in central Rome, the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy trains Catholic priests sent by their bishop from different parts of the world to study ecclesiastical and international diplomacy, particularly in order that the alumni may later be selected to serve in the Diplomatic posts of the Holy See—ultimately as a papal nuncio, or ambassador. Many leaders of the church have been alumni of the academy, including Popes Clement XIII, Leo XII, Leo XIII, Benedict XV, and Paul VI.[1]
Students spend four years at the academy; three years earning a licentiate in canon law (J.C.L.) from a Roman University, then two years earning a doctorate in canon law (J.C.D.), or theology (S.T.D.) (normally at the Pontifical Lateran University). If the students that have been recruited already have a J.C.D. then their time at the PEA is shortened to two years. The courses are usually in diplomatic history, languages and diplomatic writing and are considered not to be academic, but rather focus on the practical skills needed to serve as a diplomat. By the end of his studies, each student has to possess a working knowledge of at least two languages in addition to his mother tongue.[2]