Title II. Groupings of Particular Churches (Cann. 431 - 459)

CHAPTER I. Ecclesiastical Provinces and Ecclesiastical Regions

Can.431 §1. To promote the common pastoral action of different neighboring dioceses according to the

circumstances of persons and places and to foster more suitably the relations of the diocesan bishops among

themselves, neighboring particular churches are to be brought together into ecclesiastical provinces limited to a

certain territory.

§2. As a rule, exempt dioceses are no longer to exist. Therefore, individual dioceses and other particular

churches within the territory of some ecclesiastical province must be joined to this ecclesiastical province.

§3. It is only for the supreme authority of the Church to establish, suppress, or alter ecclesiastical provinces after

having heard the bishops involved.

Can.432 §1. The provincial council and the metropolitan possess authority in an ecclesiastical province according

to the norm of law.

§2. An ecclesiastical province possesses juridic personality by the law itself.

Can.433 §1. If it seems advantageous, especially in nations where particular churches are more numerous, the Holy

See can unite neighboring ecclesiastical provinces into ecclesiastical regions at the request of the conference of

bishops.

§2. An ecclesiastical region can be erected as a juridic person.

Can.434 It belongs to a meeting of the bishops of an ecclesiastical region to foster cooperation and common pastoral

action in the region. Nevertheless, such a meeting does not have the powers attributed to a conference of bishops

in the canons of this Code unless the Holy See has specifically granted it certain powers.