A diocese is entrusted to a diocesan bishop for his pastoral care. He is not alone, however, in fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to him. One of the vehicles available to assist his administration of the diocese is his curia. The diocesan curia consists of those individuals as well as those structures which exist to assist the diocesan bishop in his governance responsibilities. The curia has a threefold function: guiding pastoral action, conducting general administration, and exercising judicial power.

A diocesan bishop, after following certain general norms, has broad discretion in determining the structure and composition of the diocesan curia. There are certain required officers of diocesan administration such as vicars, chancellors and finance officers but after this the size and complexity of the diocesan curia will vary with the needs of different dioceses.

The overall purpose of the diocesan curia is to assist the diocesan bishop in discharging his pastoral governance responsibilities. The curial offices exist to be the means for studying, planning and carrying through the pastoral programme which the bishop weighs and ponders together with his Episcopal and Presbyteral Councils.