CHAPTER II
: BISHOPS
ARTICLE 1:
BISHOPS IN GENERAL
Can.
375 §1 By divine institution, Bishops succeed the Apostles through the Holy
Spirit who is given to them. They are constituted Pastors in the Church, to be
the teachers of doctrine, the priests of sacred worship and the ministers of
governance.
§2 By their
episcopal consecration, Bishops receive, together with the office of
sanctifying, the offices also of teaching and of ruling, which however, by
their nature, can be exercised only in hierarchical communion with the head of
the College and its members.
Can.
376 Bishops to whom the care of a given diocese is entrusted are called
diocesan Bishops; the others are called titular Bishops.
Can.
377 §1 The Supreme Pontiff freely appoints Bishops or confirms those lawfully
elected.
§2 At least
every three years, the Bishops of an ecclesiastical province or, if
circumstances suggest it, of an Episcopal Conference, are to draw up, by common
accord and in secret, a list of priests, even of members of institutes of
consecrated life, who are suitable for the episcopate; they are to send this
list to the Apostolic See. This is without prejudice to the right of every
Bishop individually to make known to the Apostolic See the names of priests
whom he thinks are worthy and suitable for the episcopal office.
§3 Unless
it has been lawfully prescribed otherwise, for the appointment of a diocesan
Bishop or a coadjutor Bishop, a ternus, as it is called, is to be proposed to
the Apostolic See. In the preparation of this list, it is the responsibility of
the papal Legate to seek individually the suggestions of the Metropolitan and
of the Suffragans of the province to which the diocese in question belongs or
with which it is joined in some grouping, as well as the suggestions of the
president of the Episcopal Conference. The papal Legate is, moreover, to hear
the views of some members of the college of consultors and of the cathedral
chapter. If he judges it expedient, he is also to seek individually, and in
secret, the opinions of other clerics, both secular and religious, and of lay
persons of outstanding wisdom. He is then to send these suggestions, together
with his own opinion, to the Apostolic See.
§4 Unless
it has been lawfully provided otherwise, the diocesan Bishop who judges that
his diocese requires an auxiliary Bishop, is to propose to the Apostolic See a
list of the names of at least three priests suitable for this office .
§5 For the
future, no rights or privileges of election, appointment, presentation or
designation of Bishops are conceded to civil authorities.
Can.
378 §1 To be a suitable candidate for the episcopate, a person must:
1° be
outstanding in strong faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom,
prudence and human virtues, and possess those other gifts which equip him to
fulfil the office in question;
2° be held
in good esteem;
3° be at
least 35 years old;
4° be a
priest ordained for at least five years;
5° hold a
doctorate or at least a licentiate in sacred Scripture, theology or canon law,
from an institute of higher studies approved by the Apostolic See, or at least
be well versed in these disciplines.
§2 The
definitive judgement on the suitability of the person to be promoted rests with
the Apostolic See.
Can.
379 Unless prevented by a lawful reason, one who is promoted to the episcopate
must receive episcopal consecration within three months of receiving the
apostolic letters, and in fact before he takes possession of his office.
Can.
380 Before taking canonical possession of his office, he who has been promoted
is to make the profession of faith and take the oath of fidelity to the
Apostolic See, in accordance with the formula approved by the same Apostolic
See.
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