| Code of Canon
Law IntraText - Text |
Art. 1.
THE ROMAN PONTIFF
Can. 331 The bishop of the Roman Church, in whom continues the
office given by the Lord uniquely to Peter, the first of the Apostles, and to be
transmitted to his successors, is the head of the college of bishops, the Vicar
of Christ, and the pastor of the universal Church on earth. By virtue of his
office he possesses supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power in
the Church, which he is always able to exercise freely.
Can. 332 §1. The Roman Pontiff obtains full and supreme power in
the Church by his acceptance of legitimate election together with episcopal
consecration. Therefore, a person elected to the supreme pontificate who is
marked with episcopal character obtains this power from the moment of
acceptance. If the person elected lacks episcopal character, however, he is to
be ordained a bishop immediately.
§2. If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it
is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly
manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.
Can. 333 §1. By virtue of his office, the Roman Pontiff not only
possesses power offer the universal Church but also obtains the primacy of
ordinary power offer all particular churches and groups of them. Moreover, this
primacy strengthens and protects the proper, ordinary, and immediate power which
bishops possess in the particular churches entrusted to their care.
§2. In fulfilling the office of supreme pastor of the Church,
the Roman Pontiff is always joined in communion with the other bishops and with
the universal Church. He nevertheless has the right, according to the needs of
the Church, to determine the manner, whether personal or collegial, of
exercising this office.
§3. No appeal or recourse is permitted against a sentence or
decree of the Roman Pontiff.
Can. 334 Bishops assist the Roman Pontiff in exercising his
office. They are able to render him cooperative assistance in various ways,
among which is the synod of bishops. The cardinals also assist him, as do other
persons and various institutes according to the needs of the times. In his name
and by his authority, all these persons and institutes fulfill the function
entrusted to them for the good of all the churches, according to the norms
defined by law.
Can. 335 When the Roman See is vacant or entirely impeded,
nothing is to be altered in the governance of the universal Church; the special
laws issued for these circumstances, however, are to be observed.
No comments:
Post a Comment