Eastern Catholic Patriarchs

[John_of_Patmos]

I have read that the EC patriarchs have full control of their churches. Does the Pope still have to approve the new bishops?

 

[Vico]

I have read that the EC patriarchs have full control of their churches. Does the Pope still have to approve the new bishops?

Outside the ancient territory the Roman Pontiff has the right to appoint the new bishops. There are other rules for inside the ancient territory so it could be possible to ordain a bishop and then give canonical provision.

CCEO Canon 86

1. The patriarch is competent:
   (1) to give a patriarchal letter of canonical provision * to a metropolitan or a bishop;
   (2) to ordain metropolitans either personally or, if impeded, through other bishops, and, if particular law thus stipulates, also to ordain all bishops;
   (3) to enthrone the metropolitan after episcopal ordination.
2. By virtue of the law itself the faculty is given to the patriarch to ordain and enthrone a metropolitan and other bishops of the Church over which he presides who are appointed by the Roman Pontiff outside the territorial boundaries of the same Church unless in a special case it is expressly stipulated otherwise.
3. Episcopal ordination and enthronement must take place within the term stipulated by law; the patriarchal letter of canonical provision is to be given within ten days of the proclamation of the election. The Apostolic See is to be notified as soon as possible of the episcopal ordination and enthronement.

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• letter of canonical provision is: the designation of the person, canonical institution, and installation.

 

[mardukm]

I have read that the EC patriarchs have full control of their churches. Does the Pope still have to approve the new bishops?

Absolutist Petrine advocates make much of the papal right to approve/appoint bishops to make it seem like the Pope controls the Church in a positive sense.

Low Petrine advocates make much of the same papal right to make it seem like the Pope controls the Church in a negative sense.

The fact is, the Pope does not control the Church, in neither a positive or negative sense. In fact, on the occasion of papal appointments/approval, it is very much a COLLEGIAL exercise of jurisdiction. What happens is that the sui juris Synod selects three candidates from which the Pope must choose. That demonstrates the collegial nature of the appointment process.

Now, the Pope has the prerogative to reject the three candidates and choose his own, but in this particular occasion, the canons also give the Synod the right to reject the papal candidate and thereby the whole selection process starts anew.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[mardukm]

Dear brother Vico,

Don’t confuse approval and appointment. You did not answer the OP. He was asking if the Pope approves all new bishops (presumably, the OP meant someone raised from the presbyterate). The answer to that is yes.

But appointment is a different issue. Appointments to an episcopal see can coincide with the consecration of a new bishop, but not always. Sometimes, appointments to vacant sees come by way of promotion (from a co-adjutor position) or translation, at which point the Pope’s approval (even outside the Traditional territories) is not always necessary - the Pope is simply informed. This principle was tested relatively recently in Canada where the Melkites or UGCC (I forget which) translated a bishop to a vacant see. The Oriental Congregation made a stink about it, but they did not get their way, and the Synodal decision held. This is different from another recent case where papal approval was required for a translation because the bishop to be translated was originally appointed by the Pope.

Blessings,
Marduk

Outside the ancient territory the Roman Pontiff has the right to appoint the new bishops. There are other rules for inside the ancient territory so it could be possible to ordain a bishop and then give canonical provision.

CCEO Canon 86

1. The patriarch is competent:
   (1) to give a patriarchal letter of canonical provision * to a metropolitan or a bishop;
   (2) to ordain metropolitans either personally or, if impeded, through other bishops, and, if particular law thus stipulates, also to ordain all bishops;
   (3) to enthrone the metropolitan after episcopal ordination.
2. By virtue of the law itself the faculty is given to the patriarch to ordain and enthrone a metropolitan and other bishops of the Church over which he presides who are appointed by the Roman Pontiff outside the territorial boundaries of the same Church unless in a special case it is expressly stipulated otherwise.
3. Episcopal ordination and enthronement must take place within the term stipulated by law; the patriarchal letter of canonical provision is to be given within ten days of the proclamation of the election. The Apostolic See is to be notified as soon as possible of the episcopal ordination and enthronement.

---

• letter of canonical provision is: the designation of the person, canonical institution, and installation.