In 1981, Pope John Paul II founded the Pontifical Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in the Apostolic Constitution Magnum Matrimonii Sacramentum [6645], as part of the effort to develop study on the themes around the marriage and family, as well as Catholic theology on the body.

In 2017, Pope Francis issued a motu proprio Summa Familiae Cura [6644] ("By the greatest concern for the family"), replacing the institute with the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences, with a new constitution and mission. It was also affiliated to the Congregation for Catholic Education, Pontifical Academy for Life, and Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. The institute's chancellor Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia also anticipated inviting additional faculty and experts in light of the Institute's expanded mandate, including non-Catholics.

Paus Franciscus

• 28-10-2016: Toespraak Bij de opening van het nieuwe academische jaar van het Pauselijke Instituut Johannes Paulus II voor studies van familie en gezin [6517]