The actual situation was this: There had to be close coordination of the Chief of General Staff and the Navy Minister before any big operation plan was adopted, because two chief functions of the Navy Minister are (1) to make it possible for front - line forces to carry out any plan of operations that is adopted, and (2) is to maintain control within the Navy Department. (ibiblio.org)
It is true, certainly, that the preservation of the faith in its full integrity is the chief function of the Voice of Peter; it is also true that it was precisely for that purpose that those who promoted Ratzinger's candidacy in Conclave 2005 did so. (faith.org.uk)
The chief function of governments today is understood to be the promotion of the global market. (religion-online.org)