ST PETER'S PONTIFICAL INSTITUTE
The Paris Foreign Mission Society (MEP) founded St Peter's Seminary at Pondicherry in 1778. In 1934, MEP shifted the Seminary to Bangalore. The Seminary introduced Bachelor’s Degree in Theology in 1962 in the academic curriculum affiliating it to the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. In the same year the Congregation for Catholic Education raised it to the status of a Pontifical Seminary.
By its decree "ECCE VIR ORIENS" the Congregation for Catholic Education, on 06.01.1976, the Feast of Epiphany, erected St Peter’s Pontifical Institute of Theology, with specialisation in Missiology and Biblical Theology.
The Congregation for Catholic Education by the decree Prot. N. 518/75/39 dated 06.01.1985 granted permanent recognition to this Institute of Theology.
On 18th November 1986 by its decree Prot. N. 728/79 the above mentioned Congregation granted the necessary approval to start the doctoral programmes.
At the request of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, St Peter’s Pontifical Institute of Theology started on 01.07.1987, a Centre for Post-Graduate Studies in Canon Law. The Congregation for Catholic Education by a special decree on 07.11.1988 gave its approval for the Aggregation of the Centre of Canon Law at St. Peter’s with the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. The same Congregation in its decree Prot. N. 1264/1988 ratified and approved the revised and updated Statutes of the Centre of Canon Law Studies and renewed its aggregation to the Pontifical Urban University for 10 years. Aggregation renewed for an another period of five years from 05th July 2014.
By its decree Prot. N. 662/86 dated 26.5.1989, the Congregation for Catholic Education approved the affiliation of St Alphonsus' College (Redemptorist Seminary), Bangalore to St Peter's Pontifical Institute of Theology.
With the collaboration of St Peter's Pontifical Institute of Theology, the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales (MSFS) started in 1991 the Indian Institute of Spirituality. This Institute is incorporated to the Faculty of Theology of St Peter's Pontifical Institute.
The Congregation for Catholic Education by its letter dated 24.01.1991, Prot. N. 1317/84/728/13 approved the erection of a separate Institute of Philosophy here empowering it to confer, in addition to Bachelor's degree (B. Ph.), Master's Degree in Philosophy (M.Ph.). Accordingly, the Institute of Philosophy started to function from June 1992.
By its decree Prot. N. 570/97/5 dated 18.08.1997 the Congregation for Catholic Education granted the affiliation of Kripalaya, Capuchin Theologate, Mysore, to St Peter’s Pontifical Institute since 1997.
The Congregation for Catholic Education by its decree Prot. N.1240/2004/5 dated 03.12.2004 granted the affiliation of Capuchin Vidya Bhavan, St. Francis Theological College, Thellakom, Kottayam to St Peter’s Pontifical Institute since 2004.
The Congregation for Catholic Education by its decree Prot. N. 82/2005/06 dated 22.02.2005 granted the affiliation of Good Shepherd Seminary, Coimbatore to St Peter’s Pontifical Institute since 2005.
By its decree Prot. N. 626/2006/27 dated 23 July 2009 the Congregation for Catholic Education granted the aggregation of St Paul’s Seminary Institute of Theology, Tiruchirapally for a period of five years ad experimentum.
By its decree Prot. N. 29/2012 dated 23 July 2019 the Congregation for Catholic Education granted the affiliation of Bodhi Institute of Theology, Kollam for a period of five years ad experimentum.
Partnership agreement between St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute and the Catholic Institute of Paris (Institut Catholique de Paris) was signed on March 2014 for a period of three years.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INSTITUTE
- To foster theological and philosophical reflections on the pastoral, missiological and canonical problems facing the Church in India today
- To foster and encourage genuine scientific research work in philosophical and ecclesiastical studies
- To promote scientific study and investigation of the cultural, moral, religious and philosophical patrimony of India with special reference to South Indian society.
- To motivate a deeper interest in philosophical and ecclesiastical sciences.
- To co-ordinate the efforts and to pool in resources so as to take the maximum advantage of the facilities available in India, and especially in Bangalore, for the philosophical and theological formation of candidates to the priesthood and religious life.
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