Book II, Part II: Hierarchical Structures (cc. 330-572)

Question 1

What is a Particular Church?

Answer 1

An ecclesiastical group of the faithful, established by the Supreme Authority of the Church, in a stable manner, entrusted to a bishop or lawful representative of the Supreme Pontiff.

Question 2

Diocese

Answer 2

A portion of the people of God, entrusted to a bishop, with the cooperation of a presbyterate that constitutes a particular church in which is truly present the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

Question 3

Territorial Prelature/Abbey

Answer 3

A portion of the people of God, defined territorially, entrusted to a prelate or abbot as its proper pastor, who governs like a diocesan bishop, with ordinary and proper jurisdiction.

Question 4

Apostolic Vicariate/Prefecture

Answer 4

A portion of the people of God not yet established as a diocese, that us entrusted to a vicar (bishop) or prefect (non-bishop) who governs in the name of the Supreme Pontiff and so has vicarious jurisdiction.

Question 5

Apostolic Administration

Answer 5

A portion of the people of God not yet established as a diocese for grave reasons, entrusted to an apostolic administrator, who governs in the name of the Supreme Pontiff.

Question 6

Vicariate Forane

Answer 6

A grouping of neighboring parishes established to foster pastoral care through common action.

Question 7

Power of Diocesan Bishops

Answer 7

Ordinary, proper, and immediate power in their diocese.

Question 8

Moderator of the Curia

Answer 8

A priest who coordinates the administrative affairs of a diocese who should be a Vicar General or Episcopal Vicar unless the bishop determines otherwise.

Question 9

Chancellor

Answer 9

A notary and archivist of the diocese whose role is to gather and safeguard the acts of the curia.

Question 10

Parish

Answer 10

A certain portion of the people of God, stably constituted, and entrusted to a parochus as its proper pastor, under the authority of the bishop.

Question 11

Quasi-Parish

Answer 11

A definite community of the Christian faithful in a particular church entrsuted to a sacerdoti as its proper pastor, not yet erected as a parish but equivalent in law unless the law provides otherwise.

Question 12

Pastor (Parochus)

Answer 12

The proper pastor of a parish entrusted to him, under the authority of the bishop, who represents the parish in all juridic affairs.

Question 13

Parochial Administrator

Answer 13

When no pastor is available, he possesses the same rights as a pastor but cannot act in any way that prejudices the rights of the next pastor.

Question 14

Praedicate Evangelium

Answer 14

The 2022 Apostolic Constitution on the special law of the Roman Curia.

Question 15

Universi Dominici Gregis

Answer 15

the 1996 Apostolic Constitution governing the procedures in a Vacant See.

Question 16

Constitutione Apostolica

Answer 16

The 2007 Motu Proprio modifying Universi Dominici Gregis

Question 17

Normas Nonnullas

Answer 17

The 2013 Motu Proprio modifying Universi Dominici Gregis

Question 18

College of Cardinals

Answer 18

A special college providing for the election of the pope, assisting the pope when convened (according to the needs of the time), and governing the Church in matters that can’t be postponed when the see is vacant.

Question 19

Papal power

Answer 19

Supreme, Full, Immediate, Universal, Ordinary

Question 20

Papal Primacy

Answer 20

This refers to the primacy of ordinary governance that the Pope always exercises freely over the entire Church. He is assisted by Synods of Bishops and the College of Cardinals.

Question 21

Collegiality of Bishops

Answer 21

Full Expression: Ecumenical Councils and all of the bishops in the world acting in unison with the Pope.

Partial Expression: Episcopal Conferences, Synods of Bishops, Particular Councils.

Question 22

Ecumenical Councils

Answer 22

These exist to get the perspective of the Church by the rapport between the Pontiff and the bishops.

Question 23

Papal Legates

Answer 23

Entrusted with the task of representing the Roman Pontiff, in a stable manner, to particular churches, or also states and public authorities, and to make strong the relations between the Pontiff and these institutions. There are 2 types:

1. Legates in the proper sense who represent the Pontiff to particular churches or also state and public authorities:
   - Apostolic Delegates: only represent to
   particular churches.

• Nuncios: represent to both particular
  churches and public authorities.
• Pronuncios: these no longer exist
• Internuncios: hold the same role as
  nuncios prior to formal relations.

2. Delegates / Observers who represent the Pontiff to pontifical missions, at international councils and conferences.
   - Delegates have the right to vote
   - Observers only have the right to be
   heard.

NB: They do not cease from office when the see is vacant unless their mandate specifies that they do.

NB: They are excepted from the power of the local ordinary (except in cases of marriage) and can perform liturgical functions in all the churches of their territory.