Pope Leo XIV has appointed three distinguished historians to the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences. The new appointees include Professor Umberto Longo, director of the Italian Historical Institute for the Middle Ages in Rome; Professor Francesco Cesareo, president emeritus of Assumption University in Worcester, United States; and Professor Anna Barańska, an associate professor at the Faculty of Humanities at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in Poland.
The Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences carries a rich legacy spanning over seven decades. It was officially established in 1954 by Pope Pius XII, building upon the foundations of the Cardinal Commission for Historical Studies, which Pope Leo XIII originally created in 1883 through his Apostolic Letter Saepenumero considerantes.
Throughout its history, the Committee has focused heavily on preserving and researching the Catholic Church’s archival heritage, with a special emphasis on the Vatican Archives. The organization frequently advocates for scholars worldwide, petitioning the Papacy to grant broader and improved access to the Holy See’s historical collections. The Committee is currently led by Jesuit Father Marek Inglot, who serves as president, alongside secretary Pierantonio Piatti.