With reference to the Document of the Congregation for Catholic Education: "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders", published by the above-mentioned Dicastery on 4 November 2005, subsequent to the numerous requests for clarification received by the Holy See, it is specified that the dispositions contained in the said Instruction apply to all Houses of Formation for the priesthood, including those dependent on the Dicasteries for the Oriental Churches, for the Evangelization of Peoples and for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The Supreme Pontiff approved this explanation on 8 April in the Year of Our Lord 2008.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.
Secretary of State