The Synod of Bishops is a body of bishops in the Catholic Church that meets periodically to discuss matters of faith and governance. The Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See, which is the central government of the Catholic Church. It is composed of the Secretariat of State, nine Congregations, three Tribunals, eleven Pontifical Councils and seven Pontifical Commissions. The Curia assists the Pope in the exercise of his primacy over all the Churches.