Pontifical Oriental Institute

Pontifical Oriental Institute
Type	Pontifical institute
Established	1917
Founder	Pope Benedict XV
Academic affiliation	Gregorian University
Chancellor	Leonardo Sandri
Rector	Rev. David Nazar, S.J.
Postgraduates	350
Location	Piazza of St. Mary Major, 7; 00185 Rome, Italy
Website	Orientale

The Pontifical Oriental Institute, also known as the Orientale, is a Catholic institution of higher education located in Rome and focusing on Eastern Christianity.

The plan of creating a school of higher learning for Eastern Christianity had been on the agenda of the Catholic Church since at least Pope Leo XIII,^[1] but it was only realized in 1917 by Pope Benedict XV. The Orientale forms part of the consortium of the Pontifical Gregorian University (founded in 1551) and the Pontifical Biblical Institute (founded in 1909), both in Rome. All three institutions are run by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

While the Orientale depends on the Holy See, its management is entrusted to the Society of Jesus. Its chancellor is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches and its vice-chancellor is the superior general of the Society of Jesus, while the Congregation for Catholic Education is the dicastery competent for approving the academic programmes of the Orientale. Each year, another approximately 400 scholars visit the library for research purposes.

The Institute has been incorporated along with the Pontifical Biblical Institute into the Pontifical Gregorian University under a single rector, as of 19 May 2024, when new statutes of the Gregorian take effect.^[2]^[3]

^ Cl. Soetens, Congrès eucharistique de Jérusalem (1893), Louvain 1977, 725, the idea being at first to found it in Constantinople and to choose the White Fathers to run it as well as to renew the Greek College.
^ Gagliarducci, Andrea (19 March 2024). "Gregoriana, Pontificio Istituto Orientale e Biblico ora sono una sola cosa" (in Italian). ACI Stampa. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
^ Payne, Daniel (19 March 2024). "Pontifical Gregorian University Announces Merger With Biblical, Eastern Institutes". National Catholic Register. Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 20 March 2024.

[1] Cl. Soetens, Congrès eucharistique de Jérusalem (1893), Louvain 1977, 725, the idea being at first to found it in Constantinople and to choose the White Fathers to run it as well as to renew the Greek College.

[2] Gagliarducci, Andrea (19 March 2024). "Gregoriana, Pontificio Istituto Orientale e Biblico ora sono una sola cosa" (in Italian). ACI Stampa. Retrieved 20 March 2024.

[3] Payne, Daniel (19 March 2024). "Pontifical Gregorian University Announces Merger With Biblical, Eastern Institutes". National Catholic Register. Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 20 March 2024.

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