About Us

The Faculty of Canon Law Saint Pius X Venice builds upon the initiative taken by Patriarch Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto who, by the authorisation of the Holy See and with the letter dated 19 October 1902, constituted an Institute of Canon Law at the Patriarchal Seminary in Venice, which opened its doors in the 1902-1903 academic year. Three years later, on November 16, 1905, Patriarch Sarto was elected Supreme Pontiff with the name Pius X and with the Motu propio Summo sane afficimur gaudio, he erected the Faculty with the power to award academic grades. It remained a privileged entity as the Pope continued to follow its ordinary academic life until his death in 1914.

In the 1931-1932 academic year, the Faculty had to suspend its activities, having been unable to promptly comply with the mandatory requirements of Deus scientiarum Dominus, the Apostolic Constitution of May 14, 1931, regulating the conduct of the academic life of universities and ecclesiastical faculties.

The current and complex pastoral urgencies, as well as the existence of the conditions required by the new Pontifical norms regarding ecclesiastical studies, necessitated the resumption of the tradition inaugurated by Patriarch Sarto, and led to the erection of a new institute of canon law that commenced its academic activities in October 2003.

Since the 2014/2015 academic year, the faculty has the backing and economic support of the dioceses of the Triveneto Ecclesiastical region. For this reason, it collaborates with the Faculty of Theology of Triveneto both for the two-year preparatory courses and for the realisation of their joint initiatives. Furthermore, it also has academic links with the Theology Faculty of Emilia Romagna and the Institute of Canon Law and Comparative Law of Religions of the Faculty of Theology in Lugano.

In addition to the common goals of all ecclesiastical faculties, Saint Pius X Faculty of Canon Law intends to promote and cultivate the canonical discipline through scientific research, teaching, and publications of its teaching staff. It pays particular attention to the theological perspective of the foundation of Law, exchange with other academic institutions, and themes related to the historical, spiritual, and cultural heritage of the Veneto region.