Canon 221

Except for the vacant eparchial sees mentioned in can. 220, in

other cases of a vacant eparchial see, the following are to be

observed in addition to cann. 225-232 and without prejudice to

cann. 222 and 223: (1) the metropolitan, or otherwise the one

who, according to the norm of can. 271, 5, presides over the

college of eparchial consultors, is to inform the Apostolic See

as soon as possible of the vacancy of the see and, if it is an

eparchy of a patriarchal Church, the patriarch; (2) until the

appointment of an administrator the governance of the eparchy,

unless otherwise provided by the Apostolic See, transfers to the

auxiliary bishop or, if there are several, to the one senior by

episcopal ordination or, if there is no auxiliary bishop, to the

college of eparchial consultors. They govern the eparchy with

that authority which common law accords to a protosyncellus; (3)

the college of eparchial consultors must elect an administrator

of the eparchy according to the norm of the canons on elections

within eight days from the reception of the news of the vacancy

of the eparchial see; for validity of the election, an absolute

majority of the votes of the members of this same college is required; (4) if within eight days, the administrator of the eparchy has not been elected or if the one elected lacks the conditions required in can. 227, 2 for the validity of the election, the appointment of an administrator of the eparchy devolves

to the metropolitan or, if none exists or he is impeded, to the

Apostolic See; (5) the administrator of an eparchy legitimately

elected or appointed immediately obtains authority and does not

need any confirmation. As soon as possible he is to inform the

Apostolic See of his election or of his appointment by the metropolitan and, if he belongs to a patriarchal Church, also the patriarch.