Bishops

[billcu1]

Is every diocese and Archdiocese instituted personally by his holiness? And are all Bishops named by him? Of course since he can’t be everywhere he takes much advice from locales but isn’t it his final decree?

 

[dans0622]

Is every diocese and Archdiocese instituted personally by his holiness? And are all Bishops named by him? Of course since he can’t be everywhere he takes much advice from locales but isn’t it his final decree?

Hello,

First question–it seems that the Pope always does this personally. If you take a look at the Vatican website and go (for example) to Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Constitutions, you’ll see many such documents, almost all of them being the erection of a diocese/eparchy. vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_constitutions/index_en.htm

However, in the Code of Canon Law, c. 373, it only says that it belongs to the supreme authority in the Church to do this and the document *Pastor bonus * (no. 76) says the Congregation for Bishops has competence in this area.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19880628_pastor-bonus-roman-curia_en.html

In practice, it seems the Congregation will make suggestions to the Pope as far as erecting dioceses and then the Pope will actually sign the document.

Second question: the Pope either freely appoints bishops or confirms one who has been elected (canon 377, 1).

Third question: yes (see previous references and canon 377, 2-4).

Dan

 

[929dad]

It is the province of the Holy Father to erect and suppress dioceses in the same way it is the province of the Ordinary to erect and suppress parishes.

In the same way, the Pope has the right and responsibility to appoint bishops for a diocese or archdiocese. Typically, he gets a terna, or a list of 3 names, from the nuncio of the country where the vacancy is, but his free to pick anyone he wishes who either is already a bishop or could be validly ordained one.

 

[FrDavid96]

Is every diocese and Archdiocese instituted personally by his holiness? And are all Bishops named by him? Of course since he can’t be everywhere he takes much advice from locales but isn’t it his final decree?

Officially, everything is done “personally” by him. In practical terms, it would be impossible (there are only so many hours in a day) for him to actually take an active part in the actual decision-process naming each and every bishop worldwide.

While I don’t pretend to have any inside knowledge on this, it stands to reason that the amount of personal involvement by the pope is going to be proportional to the “importance” of the appointment. For example, naming a new Archbishop for a very prominent see will get more personal attention, while naming an auxiliary bishop for a small diocese will likely involve less personal involvement.

In naming new bishops, there are procedures outlined in canon law and special law. The bishops of each province (the archdiocese and the suffragan diocese) regularly (I think, offhand, it’s every 5 years or so…) submit names of possible bishops to the Apostolic Nuncio for that country; based on advice solicited from their own priests. An auxiliary is usually suggested directly by the diocesan bishop—which makes sense, since he should be the one to decide who is best to act as his assistant. Yes, to your question, the final decision is the pope’s and his alone.

 

[billcu1]

Officially, everything is done “personally” by him. In practical terms, it would be impossible (there are only so many hours in a day) for him to actually take an active part in the actual decision-process naming each and every bishop worldwide.

While I don’t pretend to have any inside knowledge on this, it stands to reason that the amount of personal involvement by the pope is going to be proportional to the “importance” of the appointment. For example, naming a new Archbishop for a very prominent see will get more personal attention, while naming an auxiliary bishop for a small diocese will likely involve less personal involvement.

In naming new bishops, there are procedures outlined in canon law and special law. The bishops of each province (the archdiocese and the suffragan diocese) regularly (I think, offhand, it’s every 5 years or so…) submit names of possible bishops to the Apostolic Nuncio for that country; based on advice solicited from their own priests. An auxiliary is usually suggested directly by the diocesan bishop—which makes sense, since he should be the one to decide who is best to act as his assistant. Yes, to your question, the final decision is the pope’s and his alone.

I do know that when a bishop reaches a certain age he must submit his resignation to the pontiff. Then he will accept or deny it. I supposed if he accepts it that bishop could become an emeritus and maybe with other bishops ordain by laying on of hands the new bishop. Isn’t that right?

 

[FrDavid96]

I do know that when a bishop reaches a certain age he must submit his resignation to the pontiff. Then he will accept or deny it. I supposed if he accepts it that bishop could become an emeritus and maybe with other bishops ordain by laying on of hands the new bishop. Isn’t that right?

Right.

In canon law, the retired diocesan bishop automatically becomes “emeritus” upon his retirement–so it’s not just “could” but “shall”. The pope could take this title away, of course, but that would be truly rare.

Once the new bishop is officially named by the pope he can choose any 3 bishops to ordain him. It often just “makes sense” for the retired bishop to be one of the co-consecrators (or even the principal one).

Here’s a link to a translation of such a letter that the recipient was kind enough to make public:
catholicvoiceoakland.org/2013/07-15/inthisissue5.htm

Here’s the relevant part that answers your question:

I furthermore grant my permission for you to receive your episcopal ordination outside the city of Rome from any Catholic bishop in good standing and in accord with liturgical laws.

So, in theory, the new bishop can ask any bishops anywhere to do the ordination.

 

[Vico]

Is every diocese and Archdiocese instituted personally by his holiness? And are all Bishops named by him? Of course since he can’t be everywhere he takes much advice from locales but isn’t it his final decree?

Territory

The eastern Catholic patriarchal and major archepiscopal churches, within the patriarchal or major archepiscopal territory have the power to establish an eparchy.

Bishops

For the eastern Catholic patriarchal churches and major archepiscopal churches, within an eparchal see in the patriarchal territory, their synod elects bishops directly. But the elected head of those churches requests ecclesial communion with Rome, but the elected head of the major archepiscopal churches also is confirmed by Rome.

But outside the territory of the eastern Catholic patriarchal churches and major archepiscopal churches, the synod elects a terna (three candidates) to be submitted to Rome who appoints. For all other types of eastern churches sui iuris bishops are appointed by Rome (through the Congregation for Eastern Churches).

The Coptic Catholic Church (Patriarchal)

The Maronite Catholic Church (Patriarchal)
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church (Patriarchal)
The Syrian Catholic Church (Patriarchal)

The Armenian Catholic Church (Patriarchal)

The Romanian Greek Catholic Church (Major Archepiscopal)
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Major Archepiscopal)

The Chaldean Catholic Church (Patriarchal)
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Major Archepiscopal)
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (Major Archepiscopal)