Editing Pontifical university (section)

== Quality and ranking ==
Pontifical universities follow a European system of study hour calculation, granting the [[bachelor's degree|baccalaureate]], the [[Licentiate (degree)#Pontifical universities and faculties|licentiate]], and the [[Doctor of Sacred Theology|ecclesiastical doctorate]]. These ecclesiastical degrees are prerequisites to certain offices in the [[Roman Catholic Church]], especially considering that bishop candidates are selected mainly from priests who are [[Doctor of Sacred Theology|doctors]] of sacred theology (S.T.D.) or [[Doctor of Canon Law|canon law (J.C.D.)]] and that ecclesiastical judges and [[canon lawyer]]s must have at least the [[Licentiate of Canon Law]] (J.C.L.).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=The Pontifical Universities |url=https://vatican.com/The-Pontifical-Universities/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519135115/https://vatican.com/The-Pontifical-Universities/ |archive-date=2023-05-19 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=vatican.com}}</ref>

In 2003 the [[Holy See]] took part in the [[Bologna Process]], a series of meetings and agreements between European states designed to foster comparable quality standards in higher education, and in the "Bologna Follow-up Group". [[Pope Benedict XVI]] established the Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of Quality in Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties (AVEPRO), an attempt to promote and develop a culture of quality within the ecclesiastical institutions and enable them to aim in developing internationally valid quality criteria.<ref name="avepro.va" />

Compared to secular universities, which are academic institutions for the study and teaching of a broad range of disciplines, ecclesiastical or pontifical universities are "usually composed of three principal ecclesiastical faculties, [[Roman Catholic theology|theology]], philosophy, and [[canon law (Catholic Church)|canon law]], and at least one other faculty. A pontifical university specifically addresses Christian revelation and disciplines correlative to the evangelical mission of the Church as set out in the [[apostolic constitution]] ''Sapientia christiana''{{-"}}.<ref name="vatican.va">{{Cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15041979_sapientia-christiana_en.html |title=Sapientia Christiana (April 15, 1979) {{!}} John Paul II|website=www.vatican.va|access-date=24 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920150336/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15041979_sapientia-christiana_en.html|archive-date=20 September 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="avepro.va">Agenzia della Santa Sede per la Valutazione e la Promozione della Qualità delle Università e Facoltà Ecclesiastiche (AVEPRO), http://www.avepro.va/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008095947/http://www.avepro.va/ |date=8 October 2012 }}  Accessed 1 November. 2012</ref>