Bishops

Question 1

What is a bishop acording to canon law?

Answer 1

According to canon law, a bishop is a successor to the Apostles who has received the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Bishops are appointed to lead and govern particular churches, such as dioceses or other ecclesiastical jurisdictions, within the Catholic Church. They are responsible for overseeing the pastoral care of the faithful, teaching the Catholic faith, administering the sacraments, and ensuring the unity and discipline of the Church within their territory.

Bishops have the authority to ordain priests and deacons, confirm the faithful, and administer the sacrament of Holy Orders. They also have the responsibility to ensure that the teachings and practices of the Church are faithfully upheld within their jurisdiction.

Question 2

Job description of a bishop

Answer 2

1. Pastoral Care: Bishops are responsible for the spiritual and pastoral care of the faithful within their dioceses or other ecclesiastical jurisdictions.
2. Teaching: Bishops are tasked with teaching and safeguarding the Catholic faith, ensuring that the doctrines and teachings of the Church are faithfully transmitted to the faithful.
3. Administration: Bishops have administrative responsibilities within their dioceses, overseeing the governance, finances, and operation of the Church’s institutions and ministries.
4. Sacramental Ministry: Bishops have the authority to administer the sacraments, including ordaining priests and deacons, confirming the faithful, and presiding over the celebration of the Eucharist.
5. Unity and Discipline: Bishops are responsible for promoting unity and discipline within the Church, ensuring that the faithful adhere to the teachings and practices of the Catholic faith.
6. Collaboration: Bishops work collaboratively with priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful to fulfill the mission of the Church and promote the common good.

Overall, the job description of a bishop encompasses a wide range of pastoral, teaching, administrative, and sacramental responsibilities aimed at fostering the spiritual growth and well-being of the Church and its members.

Question 3

How do you become a bishop?

Answer 3

1) The consecration and hierarchical communion. In virtue of these two, one becomes a member of the college of bishops.
2) Canonical mission. You have episcopal consecration and membership of college, now we speak of canonical mission. One receives a determination to exercise the sacramentally based functions of teaching, sanctifying, and governing, within the communion of Churches.

Question 4

What are the types of bishops?

Answer 4

Canon 376: diocesan bishops and titular bishops.
When a bishop is given the care of some diocese, then he’s called diocesan,

Question 5

Who appoints a bishop?

Answer 5

The Holy Father freely appoints bishops or confirms those legitimately elective. This is the rule of thumb in c. 377, 1.

Question 6

What are the requirements for the consecration of a bishop?

Answer 6

1. The papal bull of appointment will require
2. oath of fidelity and
3. profession of faith in the presence college of consulters

Question 7

Elements of good suitability for bishops

Answer 7

According to canon law, the requirements for the consecration of a bishop are outlined in the Code of Canon Law, particularly in canons 378-381. The key requirements include:

1. Canonical Appointment: The bishop must be appointed by the Pope or by a legitimate authority with the power to appoint bishops.
2. Episcopal Ordination: The bishop-elect must be ordained by at least three bishops, or at least by two bishops if it is not possible to have three.
3. Canonical Age: The bishop-elect must be at least 35 years old.
4. Priestly Ordination: The bishop-elect must already be ordained a priest.
5. Good Reputation: The bishop-elect must enjoy a good reputation and possess the necessary qualities for the office, including integrity, prudence, and pastoral zeal.
6. Formation: The bishop-elect must have received proper theological, spiritual, and pastoral formation.
7. Freedom: The bishop-elect must be free from any canonical impediments that would prevent the valid reception of the episcopal consecration.

These are the primary requirements outlined in canon law for the consecration of a bishop. Additionally, there may be specific requirements or procedures established by the local bishops’ conference or by particular law in certain regions.

Question 8

· Episcopal consecration

Answer 8

One must receive episcopal consecration within 3 months of receiving the letter and receiving office. This is a timeline of 3 months from receipt of apostolic letter unless one is impeded by a legitimate impediment. The nuncio usually says, “you will be consecrated at that time because it fits with my agenda”.

Question 9

Diocesan Bishops

Answer 9

· can.382 §1.† One promoted as bishop cannot assume the exercise of the office entrusted to him before he has taken canonical possession of the diocese. Nevertheless, he is able to exercise offices which he already had in the same diocese at the time of promotion, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 409, §2.
o Elected diocesan bishop cannot put himself in governance until he has taken office. If he were a native and were already exercising office in diocese, he could continue to exercise that office.
o §2.† Unless he is prevented by a legitimate impediment, one promoted to the office of diocesan bishop must take canonical possession of his diocese within four months of receipt of the apostolic letter if he has not already been consecrated a bishop; if he has already been consecrated, within two months from receipt of this letter.
§ If one were inhibited by legitimate reason, one would have to take possession in 4 months if he is not already a bishop. If he is, 2 months. This foresees the need to be a bishop before taking possession.
§ So, we see how the legislator speaks about ordination and taking office. The two can be separated. Sometimes we see someone appointed bishop of a diocese, and is ordained and takes possession on the same day.
o §3.† A bishop takes canonical possession of a diocese when he personally or through a proxy has shown the apostolic letter in the same diocese to the college of consultors in the presence of the chancellor of the curia, who records the event. In newly erected dioceses, he takes canonical possession when he has seen to the communication of the same letter to the clergy and people present in the cathedral church, with the senior presbyter among those present recording the event.

Question 10

What is needed for taking canonical possession?

Answer 10

He needs to show the bull to college of consultors and chancellor. Hopefully it happens in a liturgical ceremony, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It could be through proxy too.

Question 11

· What is a bishop? What is the scope of his ecclesiastical power and jurisdiction?

Answer 11

Bishops, who by divine institution succeed to the place of the apostles through the Holy Spirit who has been given to them, are constituted pastors in the church, so they are teachers of doctrine, priest of sacred worship, and minister of governance.

· can.381 §1.† A diocesan bishop in the diocese entrusted to him has all ordinary, proper, and immediate power which is required for the exercise of his pastoral function except for cases which the law or a decree of the Supreme Pontiff reserves to the supreme authority or to another ecclesiastical authority.
· §2.† Those who preside over the other communities of the faithful mentioned in can. 368 are equivalent in law to a diocesan bishop unless it is otherwise apparent from the nature of the matter or from a prescript of law.

Question 12

what it means when we speak of the teaching office of a bishop?

Answer 12

· can.386 §1.† A diocesan bishop, frequently preaching in person, is bound to propose and explain to the faithful the truths of the faith which are to be believed and applied to morals. He is also to take care that the prescripts of the canons on the ministry of the word, especially those on the homily and catechetical instruction, are carefully observed so that the whole Christian doctrine is handed on to all.
· §2.† Through more suitable means, he is firmly to protect the integrity and unity of the faith to be believed, while nonetheless acknowledging a just freedom in further investigating its truths.

Question 13

What is the sanctifying funtion of a bishop?

Answer 13

· Sanctifying, LG 26, Canon 387
· can.387† Since the diocesan bishop is mindful of his obligation to show an example of holiness in charity, humility, and simplicity of life, he is to strive to promote in every way the holiness of the Christian faithful according to the proper vocation of each. Since he is the principal dispenser of the mysteries of God, he is to endeavor constantly that the Christian faithful entrusted to his care grow in grace through the celebration of the sacraments and that they understand and live the paschal mystery.
o The episcopal sanctifying function is exercised personally or through others. It is done personally by the personal presiding over the Eucharist, in particular through him celebrating the MISSA PRO POPULO, especially on Sundays and holy days of obligation.

Question 14

what is the Governing function

Answer 14

· Governing function, Canon 392
· can.392 §1.† Since he must protect the unity of the universal Church, a bishop is bound to promote the common discipline of the whole Church and therefore to urge the observance of all ecclesiastical laws.
· §2.† He is to exercise vigilance so that abuses do not creep into ecclesiastical discipline, especially regarding the ministry of the word, the celebration of the sacraments and sacramentals, the worship of God and the veneration of the saints, and the administration of goods.
o The bishop governs his diocese with legislative, judicial, and executive power. One may distinguish between what type of power he exercises in a given activity (especially to know what remedies there are against certain decisions, such as taking hierarchical recourse against a singular administrative act, rather than legislative).
There is no strict separation of powers of a bishop.

Question 15

What are the Pastoral duties of diocesan bishop?

Answer 15

· Canons 382-402 with broad strokes talk about this.
· 383 - he is to show concern for all the Christian faithful entrusted to his care. He is also to make an extension to those who cannot make pastoral care because of the condition of their lives and those who no longer practice their religion. Secondly, when it comes to faithful of a different right that a bishop may have in a diocese, he is to provide for their care either through priests or parishes of the same right or an episcopal vicar. This is a general concern, so it only applies to some dioceses. Thirdly, he is to act with humanity and charity to those not in full communion with the Church, and to consider the non-baptized as committed to him in the Lord. So there are all these groups that fall under the bishop’s attention as well.
· Care for the presbyterate.
o Likewise, an important element is (going back to the definition of a diocese) is the presbyterate. Canon 384 shows the dialectic relationship between priests and bishop. He is to listen to them as counselors and assistants. He must protect their rights, take care that they fulfill their obligations according to their proper state, and that there are available the institutions which benefit their priestly life. The legislator gives a number of elements here that make it clear that the bishop should cherish his presbyterate. A number of elements are emphasized here. Last but not least, it is his responsibility that decent support and social assistance according to the norms of law for his priests. Bishops should not act giving “less or more” depending on who is in front of them. Issues such as renumeration and sustenance should be taken care of (and some dioceses do this in manuals). There is a clear amount listed, and other things added to it (such as social assistance). When it comes to sustenance, i.e. that which you owe a priest not in active ministry. You want that to be given on the basis of objective criteria.
o Priests have to fulfill their obligations, but they also have rights. Priests have to protect their rights.
· Foster Vocations
o Canon 385. Another important task of diocesan bishop is to foster vocations to different ministries. There should be care for priestly and missionary vocations. Yes he can have vocation director, but he is to foster vocations to ministries
· Mass for the people, canon 388
o He must apply Mass for people entrusted to him each Sunday and on Holy Days of obligation in his region.
o He must celebrate it personally, with the same regulation as the pastor.
· Canon 393 - Representative of diocese
o NB, with obligations and rights, the diocese is a public juridic person by the law itself, and obviously a diocese doesn’t talk. When we talk about juridic persons, we ask who represents the juridic person? It is the bishop who does that.
· Canon 394
o Diocesan bishop is also to foster the apostolate. So these are always under his direction. They are not islands by themselves.
o He is to bind faithful in regard to the apostolate
· Residence - canon 395
o The bishop is bound by law of personal residence in diocese. This goes way back in history to when bishops would not set foot in diocese, yet receive the income of the diocese.
o Even if he has coadjutor or auxiliary, the bishop must reside in the diocese.
o Apart from ad limina visits, councils, meetings of conference of bishops, or other duty appointed by Holy Father. He can be out of his diocese for not beyond a month. So with the responsibilities and the one month outside of the diocese allowed, it could mean that a bishop spends a lot of time outside of the diocese. This often causes frictions with the presbyterate.
· 396-397 pastoral visits
· 399 - quinquennial
· 400 - ad limina.

Question 16

How does a diocesan bishop exercise his power?

Answer 16

· In terms of legislative power, he does so through promulgation of particular law. Canon 135, 2 says how a legislator below a supreme authority cannot validly delegate his power unless the law expressly provides otherwise. There is one kind of nuance or variation, that is Diocesan Synods. But ultimately these decrees are legislated by diocesan bishop, even though the law came into reality by another means than just the bishop promulgating legislation.
o Ultimately the bishop will make a clear decree establishing legislation. Prior to doing that, it might be wise for the diocesan bishop to run a legislation he has in mind through the presbyteral council. He is to consult with the council on moments of major importance. Whether the presbyteral council gives its advice to bishop, it’s another matter. We will deal with that later when we deal with presbyteral council.
o As an aside, oftentimes we do not use the term particular law. We have policies, but what is the status of that? How does one qualify a policy? is it particular law, is it a general executive decree? It’s important to know what kind of power is being used because of the effect it may have. Labels should not distract one from the content. Look at the content. Bishops are not franchise holders, they have right within their own diocese and can establish their own particular law as long as they don’t violate universal law.
o NB. Proportionality is a good principle for responding to problems with legislation. You don’t seek to kill a mosquito with a bazooka gun. You should respond according to the principle of proportionality.
o The instrument of legislation is important and often underutilized.
· In terms of executive power, the bishop can exercise it personally or vicariously through one of the vicars. or through personal delegations of power when he delegates power to someone else.
o Executive power is that area where the bishop does not use his legislative power nor his judicial power. It’s an easy definition to remember. In governing, one often has the choice between acting and not acting. When do you act? There is no guidelines for that. When it comes to executive power, the legislator offers a framework in which to operate. When it comes to legislative, the bishop or others have a lot of discretionary power. This is the choice between acting or not acting.
o e.g. In dealing with a problem child, a diocesan bishop can have a conversation and ask Fr. that the problem not happen again. Or he can pull out a singular administrative decree with orders for the priest and restrictions of ministry. He doesn’t have to do that unless the legislator says (such as in book 6, where things are said to have to happen, in this case discretionary power is cut out). So there are options for how to act, and discretion for when to act or not. Use good judgment. Especially in HR issues and priest issues. These often get the bishop in a difficult position because he has to take unpleasant measures and also develop a good relationship with his priests.
o How does one use that power? It’s up to the diocesan bishop.
· Judicial power
o The diocesan bishop can exercise this personally or through the judicial offices, i.e. the JV or the tribunal, or he can exercise it personally. The exercise of judicial power was emphasized by Francis in Mitis Iudex when he changed marriage nullity processes. Pope Francis sort of brought the bishop back to the tribunal or reminded them that they are the first judge in their diocese and should judge some of their cases.

Question 17

What are the objectives of the pastoral visits?

Answer 17

· In making a pastoral visit, the Bishop should seek to accomplish the following, if time and local circumstances permit:
o a) to celebrate Mass and preach the Word of God;
o b) to confer the sacrament of confirmation with due solemnity, within Mass if possible;
o c) to meet the pastor and the other clerics who assist in the parish;
o d) to have meetings with the pastoral council or, if one does not exist, with the faithful who collaborate in diverse apostolates (clerics, religious and members of societies of apostolic life and the laity) and with associations of the faithful;
o e) to have a meeting with the parish finance council;
o f) to have a meeting with children, youth and young adults who are receiving catechetical instruction;
o g) to visit the school and other Catholic institutions dependent on the parish;
o h) to visit some of the sick in the parish, insofar as it is possible.

Question 19

What is the diocesan bishop acording to Cristus Dominis?

Answer 19

11. A diocese is a portion of the people of God which is entrusted to a bishop to be shepherded by him with the cooperation of the presbytery. Thus by adhering to its pastor and gathered together by him through the Gospel and the Eucharist in the Holy Spirit, it constitutes a particular church in which the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church of Christ is truly present and operative.

Individual bishops who have been entrusted with the care of a particular church-under the authority of the supreme pontiff-feed their sheep in the name of the Lord as their own, ordinary, and immediate pastors, performing for them the office of teaching, sanctifying, and governing. Nevertheless, they should recognize the rights which legitimately belong to patriarchs or other hierarchical authorities.(1)

Bishops should dedicate themselves to their apostolic office as witness of Christ before all men. They should not only look after those who already follow the Prince of Pastors but should also wholeheartedly devote themselves to those who have strayed in any way from the path of truth or are ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and His saving mercy until finally all men walk “in all goodness and justice and truth” (Eph. 5:9).

12. In exercising their duty of teaching-which is conspicuous among the principal duties of bishops(2)-they should announce the Gospel of Christ to men, calling them to a faith in the power of the Spirit or confirming them in a living faith. They should expound the whole mystery of Christ to them, namely, those truths the ignorance of which is ignorance of Christ. At the same time they should point out the divinely revealed way to give glory to God and thereby to attain to eternal happiness.(3)

They should show, moreover, that earthly goods and human institutions according to the plan of God the Creator are also disposed for man’s salvation and therefore can contribute much to the building up of the body of Christ.

Therefore, they should teach, according to the doctrine of the Church, the great value of these things: the human person with his freedom and bodily life, the family and its unity and stability, the procreation and education of children, civil society with its laws and professions, labor and leisure, the arts and technical inventions, poverty and affluence. Finally, they should set forth the ways by which are to be answered the most serious questions concerning the ownership, increase, and just distribution of material goods, peace and war, and brotherly relations among all countries.(4)

13. The bishops should present Christian doctrine in a manner adapted to the needs of the times, that is to say, in a manner that will respond to the difficulties and questions by which people are especially burdened and troubled. They should also guard that doctrine, teaching the faithful to defend and propagate it. In propounding this doctrine they should manifest the maternal solicitude of the Church toward all men whether they be believers or not. With a special affection they should attend upon the poor and the lower classes to whom the Lord sent them to preach the Gospel.

Since it is the mission of the Church to converse with the human society in which it lives,(5) it is especially the duty of bishops to seek out men and both request and promote dialogue with them. These conversations on salvation ought to be noted for clarity of speech as well as humility and mildness in order that at all times truth may be joined to charity and understanding with love. Likewise they should be noted for due prudence joined with trust, which fosters friendship and thus is capable of bringing about a union of minds.(6)

They should also strive to make use of the various media at hand nowadays for proclaiming Christian doctrine, namely, first of all, preaching and catechetical instruction which always hold the first place, then the presentation of this doctrine in schools, academies, conferences, and meetings of every kind, and finally its dissemination through public statements at times of outstanding events as well as by the press and various other media of communication, which by all means ought to be used in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.(7)

14. Bishops should take pains that catechetical instruction-which is intended to make the faith, as illumined by teaching, a vital, explicit and effective force in the lives of men-be given with sedulous care to both children and adolescents, youths and adults. In this instruction a suitable arrangement should be observed as well as a method suited to the matter that is being treated and to the character, ability, age, and circumstances of the life of the students. Finally, they should see to it that this instruction is based on Sacred Scripture, tradition, the liturgy, magisterium, and life of the Church.

Moreover, they should take care that catechists be properly trained for their function so that they will be thoroughly acquainted with the doctrine of the Church and will have both a theoretical and a practical knowledge of the laws of psychology and of pedagogical methods.

Bishops should also strive to renew or at least adapt in a better way the instruction of adult catechumens.

15. In exercising their office of sanctifying, bishops should be mindful that they have been taken from among men and appointed their representative before God in order to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. Bishops enjoy the fullness of the sacrament of orders and both presbyters and deacons are dependent upon them in the exercise of their authority. For the presbyters are the prudent fellow workers of the episcopal order and are themselves consecrated as true priests of the New Testament, just as deacons are ordained for the ministry and serve the people of God in communion with the bishop and his presbytery. Therefore bishops are the principal dispensers of the mysteries of God, as well as being the governors, promoters, and guardians of the entire liturgical life in the church committed to them.(8)

They should, therefore, constantly exert themselves to have the faithful know and live the paschal mystery more deeply through the Eucharist and thus become a firmly-knit body in the unity of the charity of Christ.(9) “Intent upon prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4), they should devote their labor to this end that all those committed to their care may be of one mind in prayer(10) and through the reception of the sacraments may grow in grace and be faithful witnesses to the Lord.

As those who lead others to perfection, bishops should be diligent in fostering holiness among their clerics, religious, and laity according to the special vocation of each.(11) They should also be mindful of their obligation to give an example of holiness in charity, humility, and simplicity of life. Let them so hallow the churches entrusted to them that the feeling of the universal Church of Christ may shine forth fully in them. For that reason they should foster priestly and religious vocations as much as possible, and should take a special interest in missionary vocations.

16. In exercising their office of father and pastor, bishops should stand in the midst of their people as those who serve.(12) Let them be good shepherds who know their sheep and whose sheep know them. Let them be true fathers who excel in the spirit of love and solicitude for all and to whose divinely conferred authority all gratefully submit themselves. Let them so gather and mold the whole family of their flock that everyone, conscious of his own duties, may live and work in the communion of love.

In order effectively to accomplish these things, bishops, “ready for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21) and “enduring all things for the sake of the chosen ones” (2 Tim. 2:10), should arrange their life in such a way as to accommodate it to the needs of our times.

Bishops should always embrace priests with a special love since the latter to the best of their ability assume the bishops’ anxieties and carry them on day by day so zealously. They should regard the priests as sons and friends(13) and be ready to listen to them. Through their trusting familiarity with their priests they should strive to promote the whole pastoral work of the entire diocese.

They should be solicitous for the spiritual, intellectual and material welfare of the priests so that the latter can live holy and pious lives and fulfill their ministry faithfully and fruitfully. Therefore, they should encourage institutes and hold special meetings in which priests might gather from time to time both for the performance of longer exercises and the renewal of their spiritual life and for the acquisition of deeper subjects, especially Sacred Scripture and theology, the more important social questions, and the new methods of pastoral activity.

With active mercy bishops should pursue priests who are involved in any danger or who have failed in certain respects.

In order to be able to look more closely to the welfare of the faithful according to the condition of each one, bishops should strive to become duly acquainted with their needs in the social circumstances in which they live. Therefore, they ought to employ suitable methods, especially social research. They should manifest their concern for everyone, no matter what their age, condition, or nationality, be they natives, strangers, or foreigners. In exercising this pastoral care they should preserve for their faithful the share proper to them in Church affairs; they should also respect their duty and right of actively collaborating in the building up of the Mystical Body of Christ.

They should deal lovingly with the separated brethren, urging the faithful also to conduct themselves with great kindness and charity in their regard and fostering ecumenism as it is understood by the Church.(14) They should also have a place in their hearts for the non-baptized so that upon them too there may shine the charity of Christ Jesus, to whom the bishops are witnesses before all men.

17. Various forms of the apostolate should be encouraged, and in the whole diocese or in any particular areas of it the coordination and close connection of all apostolic works should be fostered under the direction of the bishop. Thus all undertakings and organizations, be they catechetical, missionary, charitable, social, familial, educational, or anything else pursuing a pastoral aim, should be directed toward harmonious action. Thus at the same time the unity of the diocese will also be made more evident.

The faithful should be earnestly urged to assume their duty of carrying on the apostolate, each according to his state in life and ability. They should be admonished to participate in and give aid to the various works of the apostolate of the laity, especially Catholic Action. Those associations should also be promoted and supported which either directly or indirectly pursue a supernatural objective, that is, either the attaining of a more perfect life, the spreading of the Gospel of Christ to all men, and the promoting of Christian doctrine or the increase of public worship, or the pursuing of social aims or the performing of works of piety and charity.

The forms of the apostolate should be properly adapted to the needs of the present day with regard not only for man’s spiritual and moral circumstances but also for his social, demographic, and economic conditions. Religious and social research, through offices of pastoral sociology, contributes much to the efficacious and fruitful attainment of that goal, and it is highly recommended.

18. Special concern should be shown for those among the faithful who, on account of their way of life, cannot sufficiently make use of the common and ordinary pastoral care of parish priests or are quite cut off from it. Among this group are the majority of migrants, exiles and refugees, seafarers, air-travelers, gypsies, and others of this kind. Suitable pastoral methods should also be promoted to sustain the spiritual life of those who go to other lands for a time for the sake of recreation.

Episcopal conferences, especially national ones, should pay special attention to the very pressing problems concerning the above-mentioned groups. Through voluntary agreement and united efforts, they should look to and promote their spiritual care by means of suitable methods and institutions. They should also bear in mind the special rules either already laid down or to be laid down by the Apostolic See(15) which can be wisely adapted to the circumstances of time, place, and persons.

19. In discharging their apostolic office, which concerns the salvation of souls, bishops per se enjoy full and perfect freedom and independence from any civil authority. Hence, the exercise of their ecclesiastical office may not be hindered, directly or indirectly, nor may they be forbidden to communicate freely with the Apostolic See, or ecclesiastical authorities, or their subjects.

Assuredly, while sacred pastors devote themselves to the spiritual care of their flock, they also in fact have regard for their social and civil progress and prosperity. According to the nature of their office and as behooves bishops, they collaborate actively with public authorities for this purpose and advocate obedience to just laws and reverence for legitimately constituted authorities.

20. Since the apostolic office of bishops was instituted by Christ the Lord and pursues a spiritual and supernatural purpose, this sacred ecumenical synod declares that the right of nominating and appointing bishops belongs properly, peculiarly, and per se exclusively to the competent ecclesiastical authority.

Therefore, for the purpose of duly protecting the freedom of the Church and of promoting more conveniently and efficiently the welfare of the faithful, this holy council desires that in future no more rights or privileges of election, nomination, presentation, or designation for the office of bishop be granted to civil authorities. The civil authorities, on the other hand, whose favorable attitude toward the Church the sacred synod gratefully acknowledges and highly appreciates, are most kindly requested voluntarily to renounce the above-mentioned rights and privileges which they presently enjoy by reason of a treaty or custom, after discussing the matter with the Apostolic See.

21. Since the pastoral office of bishops is so important and weighty, diocesan bishops and others regarded in law as their equals, who have become less capable of fulfilling their duties properly because of the increasing burden of age or some other serious reason, are earnestly requested to offer their resignation from office either at their own initiative or upon the invitation of the competent authority. If the competent authority should accept the resignation, it will make provision both for the suitable support of those who have resigned and for special rights to be accorded them.