The new office will be in charge of pastoral care of the family and will take over from existing departments.
According to The Catholic Herald it will work on "the promotion of the life and apostolate of the lay faithful, for the pastoral care of the family and its mission according to God's plan and for the protection and support of human life."
The department will also encourage the "active and responsible presence of the laity in the advisory organs of governance present in the Church at the universal and particular levels."
There is already a Pontifical Council for the Laity and a Pontifical Academy for Life, they will exist alongside the new body.
Pope Francis wants the council to pay special attention to young people as well as the poor and marginalised.
The body has been approved on a trial basis but the time period, name and staff of the new department have not been specified yet.
