Founded in 1542 by Pope Paul III with the Constitution "Licet ab initio," the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was originally called the Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition as its duty was to defend the Church from heresy. Pope St. Pius X in 1908 changed the name to the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office. It received its current name in 1965 with Pope Paul VI. Today, "according to Article 48 of the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, 'Pastor Bonus,' promulgated by Pope John Paul II on June 28, 1988," "the duty proper to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world: for this reason everything which in any way touches such matter falls within its competence."

The congregation is now headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. It has a secretary, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., Named an undersecretary, Msgr. Jozef Zlatnansky, and a staff of 32, according to the 1995 "Annuario Pontificio" or "Pontifical Yearbook." It also has 23 members - cardinals, archbishops and bishops - and 27 consultors. Given the nature of its task, congregation work is divided into four distinct sections: the doctrinal office, the disciplinary office, the matrimonial office and that for priests. The congregation, says the "Activity of the Holy See," in conformity with its raison d'etre, promotes in a collegial fashion encounters and initiatives to "spread sound doctrine and defend those points of Christian tradition which seem "in danger" because of new and unacceptable doctrines."