The Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses was established in 1879 by Pope Leo XIII, and updated in 1986 by Pope John Paul II. Its purpose is “to make ever better known, loved and served, Our Lord Jesus Christ in his Eucharistic Mystery, as centre of the life of the Church and of its mission for the salvation of the world” through the celebration of International Eucharistic Congresses (Cf. Statutes, Art. 2-3). In doing so it works with Episcopal Conferences and Patriarchal Synods to prepare for the Congresses, in collaboration with the local ecclesiastical authority. It likewise encourages and supports initiatives which aim to develop the understanding of, and participation in, the Eucharistic Mystery in all its aspects.

The Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences was established in 1954 by Pope Pius XII, to continue the work of the previous Commission of Cardinals for Historical Studies. The purpose of that body was to give an active impulse - in the Catholic spirit - to the renewal of historical research, especially after the opening of the Vatican Secret Archives to scholars in 1880. This effort continues today as more historical records become available. To this the Committee has added support for the study of the humanities, in particular classical languages, such as Latin and Greek.