Bishop Selection Process

[Glennon_P]

Not sure which forum this should be placed in…

What is involved in the process of screening and selecting Bishops? I have heard that the Apostolic Delegate for each country solicits suggestions of potential candidates from Bishops. Are suggestions solicited from others? Religious orders? Rank-and-file priests? Can a lay person or group suggest a candidate?

I have also heard that there is a questionnaire sent out to people who might know the candidate and has observed his work and life. What types of questions are asked?

Does a potential candidate know his name has been suggested?

It’s my understanding that the Holy Father is given a list of three or four candidates for a given position and then chooses from among that list. Is that correct?

Finally, what criteria are considered when naming a Bishop to a given diocese?

Any info would be great.

 

[Joe_5859]

There are, of course, aspects of the process that aren’t going to be publicized.

Everything you say matches up with everything I have ever heard. My main source of knowledge is anecdotal based on the stories my old bishop used to share. For him at least, he did not know he was being considered. He just got the phone call one evening from the apostolic nuncio saying something like “His Holiness requests that you be the bishop of [name of diocese]. Do you accept?”

As for the criteria, it’s more or less laid out in canon law, namely canon 378.
Canon 378
Can. 378 §1. In regard to the suitability of a candidate for the episcopacy, it is required that he is:

1/ outstanding in solid faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence, and human virtues, and endowed with other qualities which make him suitable to fulfill the office in question;

2/ of good reputation;

3/ at least thirty-Five years old;

4/ ordained to the presbyterate for at least Five years;

5/ in possession of a doctorate or at least a licentiate in sacred scripture, theology, or canon law from an institute of higher studies approved by the Apostolic See, or at least truly expert in the same disciplines.

§2. The definitive judgment concerning the suitability of the one to be promoted pertains to the Apostolic See.
I’d imagine that it varies quite a bit depending on the diocese. Certainly, there are many qualities that are desirable for all bishops, but I doubt the nuncio just solicits a bunch of candidates and then plugs them in to dioceses in random fashion. The job of a bishop is going to be different for a bishop in a large metropolitan area as opposed to a sprawling, rural diocese. And even there, a lot will depend on the history and other demographics. Maybe the diocese has gone through a financial crisis and needs an able administrator. Maybe the diocese was hit particularly hard by the sex abuse crisis and needs a bishop who is eminently pastoral and whose personal history is beyond reproach.

 

[CTBcin]

For him at least, he did not know he was being considered. He just got the phone call one evening from the apostolic nuncio saying something like “His Holiness requests that you be the bishop of [name of diocese]. Do you accept?”

I couldn’t even imagine getting a phone call like that! I would probably say: “Could I think about it and get back to you? Lol)

 

[Joe_5859]

I couldn’t even imagine getting a phone call like that! I would probably say: “Could I think about it and get back to you? Lol)

Indeed! That’s what I thought, and that was actually the point he was making in sharing the story. For some things, we do need to take time and pray, of course. But sometimes, it is our regular prayer life that prepares us for things we do not expect—even monumental, life-changing things. And in those moments, we put our trust in God and make the decision. So, he says he did not hesitate to say “Yes”.

That story has stuck with me, particularly because—if left to my own devices—I’m the type who would think and pray about things indefinitely without ever making a decision.

 

[EricF]

Yes and the overused trite statement “God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.” applies.