Canon 277

1. The office of protopresbyter, with due regard to the particular law of his own Church sui iuris, must not be joined in a

stable manner to the office of pastor of a certain parish; the

eparchial bishop, having heard, if he considers it opportune, the

pastors and parochial vicars of the district in question, is to

appoint a presbyter especially among the pastors, outstanding for

his doctrine and apostolic fervor. 2. The protopresbyter is to

be appointed for a term determined by particular law. 3. For a

just cause, the eparchial bishop can remove a protopresbyter from

office.