The SOBICAIN – International Catholic Biblical Society – was founded by Father James Alberione in 1924. Pope John XXIII approved the Statues of SOBICAIN on 14 October 1960, elevating it to the status of a Primary Union as stated in the Pontifical Brief of the same date.
The clear mission of SOBICAIN is to encourage the Pauline biblical apostolate in the world: to bring the Word of God to all peoples and nations, to promote and support new editions and translations of the Bible. “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation” (Mk 16,15). Through the Centro Bíblico San Pablo CBSP, we seek to carry out the biblical animation of the entire pastoral ministry, developed in its essential aspects of formation, spirituality, prayer meetings and dialogue with the Word of God.
In 1972 the Latin American Bible (also known as the “Biblia Latinoamericana”) was born, a project of the Pastoral Bible developed by Father Bernardo Hurault. There was a need to have a text of easy comprehension and simple language accessible for everyone. This was in keeping with the SOBICAIN Statute: that the Word of God should reach the humblest of the humble, from the most diverse cultures.
In addition to publishing in the most widely spoken languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese), the editorial service of the Word of God has led SOBICAIN to publish the Pastoral Bible in the languages and cultures of various Peoples: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilonggo (Philippines), Quichua (Ecuador), Quechua (Peru), Guarani (Paraguay).
As a gift for the 60th anniversary of SOBICAIN last October of 2021, The Bible Scruttate le Scritture, an Italian edition for study and meditation on the Word of God, was published. Presently, SOBICAIN is exporting worldwide, especially to the Spanish-speaking community.
Pontifical Brief of Erection of Pope John XXIII
Then, recently, the Pious Union, after receiving the name of “Catholic Biblical Society” with the same purpose and governed by the same laws, was canonically erected in the Diocese of Ostia, Porto, and Santa Rufina with the decree of 16th March 1960, issued by Our Ven. Brother Eugenio Tisserant, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and bishop of the same dioceses. Other Bishops did the same thing in their respective dioceses.
In order that this Society might spread more widely and that the members of the various Unions, constituted in the different Dioceses, might feel more closely united among themselves, the beloved son James Alberione, Superior General of the Pious Society of St. Paul, presented us with humble requests that we might confer on the aforesaid Society the name and right of Primary Union. Accepting these supplications with a joyful spirit, corroborated by the letters of commendation of the same Emmo. We, having consulted the Sacred Congregation of the Council, in force in this Brief, with Our Apostolic Authority, definitively elevate to the dignity of Primary Union the Pious Union called “Catholic Biblical Society”, and to its present and future Superiors, according to the norm of the Code of Canon Law, We grant the faculty to add the name of “Catholic Biblical Society” legitimately and to its present and future Superiors, according to the norm of the Code of Canon Law, We grant them the faculty of legitimately joining any Pious Unions which, with the same title and purpose, are already constituted and will be erected in the future in any part of the world, and of communicating to them all the indulgences and spiritual favors granted or to be granted by this Apostolic See to the same Primary Union. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.
We publicly notify and grant these things, decreeing that the present Brief shall be and remain perennially stable, valid, and efficacious, shall attain and preserve its full and complete effects, and shall serve, now and in the future, of full utility to the aforesaid Primary Union. We finally declared that it is to be so judged and defined as to render invalid and of no value from this moment onwards anything which may be knowingly or unknowingly attempted to be established in this respect by anyone on any authority whatsoever.
The organizational chart of Sobicain
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President: P. Domenico Soliman
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Managing Director: P. Jose Pottayil
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Councillors: Fr Tomasz Lubas, Fr Giacomo Perego, Fr Walter Rodríguez
