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Supreme Tribunal of the
Apostolic Signatura
Art. 121 — The Apostolic Signatura functions as the supreme tribunal
and also ensures that justice in the Church is correctly administered.
Art. 122 — This Tribunal adjudicates:
1. complaints of nullity and petitions for total reinstatement against
sentences of the Roman Rota;
2. in cases concerning the status of persons, recourses when the Roman
Rota has denied a new examination of the case;
3. exceptions of suspicion and other proceedings against judges of the
Roman Rota arising from the exercise of their functions;
4. conflicts of competence between tribunals which are not subject to
the same appellate tribunal.
Art. 123 — § 1. The Signatura adjudicates recourses lodged within
the peremptory limit of thirty canonical days against singular administrative
acts whether issued by the dicasteries of the Roman Curia or approved by them,
whenever it is contended that the impugned act violated some law either in the
decision-making process or in the procedure used.
§ 2. In these cases, in addition to the judgement regarding illegality
of the act, it can also adjudicate, at the request of the plaintiff, the
reparation of damages incurred through the unlawful act.
§ 3. The Signatura also adjudicates other administrative controversies
referred to it by the Roman Pontiff or by dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as
well as conflicts of competence between these dicasteries.
Art. 124 — The Signatura also has the responsibility:
1. to exercise vigilance over the correct administration of justice,
and, if need be, to censure advocates and procurators;
2. to deal with petitions presented to the Apostolic See for obtaining
the commission of a case to the Roman Rota or some other favour relative to the
administration of justice;
3. to extend the competence of lower tribunals;
4. to grant its approval to tribunals for appeals reserved to the Holy
See, and to promote and approve the erection of interdiocesan tribunals.
Art. 125 — The Apostolic Signatura is governed by its own law.
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