CODE OF CANONS OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES / TITLE:III

 CODE OF CANONS OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES / TITLE:III

 CODE OF CANONS OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES / TITLE:III

TITLE: III

THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH

 

Can. 42 – Just as, by the Lord’s decision, Saint Peter and the other Apostles constitute one college, so in a similar way the Roman Pontiff, successor of Peter, and the bishops, successors of the Apostles, are joined together.

 

CHAPTER: I

THE ROMAN PONTIFF

 

Can. 43 – The bishop of the church of Rome, in whom resides the office (munus) given in special way by the Lord of Peter, first of the Apostles and to be transmitted to his successors, is head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ and Pastor of the entire Church on earth; therefore, in virtue of his office (munus) he enjoys supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary power in the Church which he can always freely exercise.

 

Can. 44 - §1. The Roman Pontiff obtains full and supreme power in the Church by means of legitimate election accepted by him together with episcopal consecration; therefore, one who is already a bishop obtains this same power from the moment he accepts his election to the pontificate, but if the one elected lacks the episcopal character, he is to be ordained a bishop immediately.

 

§2. If it should happen that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office (munus), it is required for validity that he makes the resignation freely and that it be duly manifested, but not that it be accepted by anyone.

 

Can. 45 - §1. The Roman Pontiff, by virtue of his office (munus), not only has power over the entire Church but also possesses a primacy of ordinary power over all the eparchies and groupings of them by which the proper, ordinary and immediate power which bishops possess in the eparchy entrusted to their care is both strengthened and safeguarded.

 

§2. The Roman Pontiff, in fulfilling the office (munus) of the supreme pastor of the Church is always united in communion with the other bishops and with the entire Church; however, he has the right, according to the needs of the Church, to determine the manner, either personal or collegial, of exercising this function.

 

§3. There is neither appeal nor recourse against a sentence or decree of the Roman Pontiff.

 

Can. 46 - §1. In exercising his office (munus) the Roman Pontiff is assisted by the bishops who aid him in various ways and among these is the synod of bishops; moreover, the cardinals, the Roman curia, pontifical legates and other persons and various institutes assist him according to the needs of the times; all these persons and institutes carry out the task committed to them in his name and by his authority for the good of all the Churches, according to the norm of law established by the Roman Pontiff himself.

 

§2. The participation of patriarchs and other hierarchs who preside over Churches sui iuris in the synod of bishops is regulated by special norms established by the Roman Pontiff.

 

Can. 47 – When the Roman see is vacant or entirely impeded nothing is to be innovated in the governance of the entire Church; however, special laws enacted for those circumstances are to be observed.

 

Can. 48 – In this Code the term “Apostolic See” or “Holy See” applies not only to the Roman Pontiff but also, unless it is otherwise prescribed by the law or the nature of the matter indicates otherwise, dicasteries and other institutes of the roman curia.

 

CHAPTER II

THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS

 

Can. 49 – The college of bishops, whose head is the Roman Pontiff and whose members are the bishops by virtue of sacramental ordination and hierarchical communion with the head and members of the college, and in which the apostolic body continually endures, together with its head, and never without its head, is also the subject of supreme and full power over the universal Church.

 

Can. 50 §1. The college of bishops exercises power over the entire Church in a solemn manner in an ecumenical council.

 

§2. The college exercises the same power through the united action of the bishops dispersed in the world, which action as such has been initiated or has been freely accepted by the Roman Pontiff so that a truly collegial act results.

 

§3. It is for the Roman Pontiff, in keeping with the needs of the Church, to select and promote the ways by which the college of bishops is to exercise collegially its function regarding the entire Church.

 

Can. 51 - §1. It is for the Roman Pontiff alone to convoke an ecumenical council, to preside over it personally or through others, to transfer, suspend or dissolve it, and to confirm its decrees.

 

§2. It is for the same Roman Pontiff to determine matters to be treated in a council and to establish the order to be followed in the same council; to the questions proposed by the Roman Pontiff the fathers of a council can add other questions, to be approved by the same Roman Pontiff.

 

Can. 52 - §1. It is the right and obligation of all and only the bishops who are members of the college of bishops to participate in an ecumenical council with a deliberative vote.

 

§2. The supreme authority of the Church can also call others who are not bishops to an ecumenical council and determine what part they take in it.

 

Can. 53 – If the Apostolic See becomes vacant during the celebration of a council, it is interrupted by the law itself until a new Roman Pontiff orders it to be continued or dissolves it.

 

Can. 54 - §1. Decrees of an ecumenical council do not have obligatory force unless they are approved by the Roman Pontiff together with the fathers of the council and are confirmed by the Roman Pontiff and promulgated at his order.

 

§2. When the college of bishops takes collegial action in another manner, initiated or freely accepted by the Roman Pontiff, in order for its decrees to have binding force, they need this same confirmation and promulgation.

 CODE OF CANONS OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES / TITLE:III