The Pope transfers the competencies reserved for the Holy See to the bishops

Alessandro de Caroles – Vatican News

It’s no longer “consent”, but “confirmation”. This is the essential novelty of the personal principle by which the Pope decided to modify the assignment of certain jurisdictions laid down in the Code of Canon Law, to both the Latin Church and the Eastern Churches. These include the competence of episcopal councils to disseminate religious teachings. One of the first innovations concerned the transition from the Holy See to the Diocesan Bishop of the College to establish a seminary in his area, without having to wait for the approval of Rome, but simply for its confirmation. The goal, as defined in the introduction to the Special Order, is to favor a “healthy decentralization” that makes decisions in the ecclesiastical realm more dynamic.

Bishops are afforded a similar possibility with regard to priestly formation (the bishops can adapt it “to the pastoral needs of each district or province”) and the consecration of priests, who from now on may be considered – in addition to a private church or in a religious institution – also in a “public clergy”, Recognized by the Holy See, in order to avoid “headless and wandering clergy”. The criterion of decentralization, as well as “closeness” as well, is reflected in the extension of the period of “exception” from 3 to 5 years, that is, the possibility of allowing a religious person to live outside his institute for serious reasons. Private property, as well as the competence of episcopal councils to disseminate religious teachings, interferes with the transfer of decisions regarding possible reductions in the number of Masses to be celebrated regarding intentions and receipts from the Holy See to the responsibility of the local churches. .

the Archbishop Marco MelinoSecretary of the Council of Cardinals and member of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, explains the general principles that inspired the Pope’s doctrine:

The Motu Doctrine, by which some of the rules of two canons of the Catholic Church have been amended – the Canon of Canon Law of the Latin Church and the Canon of Canons of the Eastern Churches of the Eastern Church – is another part joining the reform work begun by Pope Francis from the beginning of his pontificate and which is continuing.

It responds to the spirit of “sanitary decentralization” referred to in the Apostolic Exhortation Farah Evangelii, number. 32, with the aim of favoring and appreciating the dynamics of closeness in the Church, without compromising the hierarchical communion.

The intent she salutes is a deep pastoral and is well defined in the introduction to the text, where it is said that, taking into account the ecclesiastical culture and the legal mentality specific to each law, some of the competences hitherto ascribed to the Holy See, and thus exercised by the central government, are ‘decentralised’ , i.e. assigned to bishops (diocesan / diocesan or united in episcopal conferences or according to eastern hierarchical structures) and to heads of institutes of consecrated life and apostolic assemblies life with the intent that it needs above all to foster a spirit of fellowship and pastoral responsibility, as well as to satisfy the principles of rationality, effectiveness and efficiency.

It is clear, in fact, that when the authority has first-hand and closer knowledge of the people and situations which require pastoral action of the government, this measure, by virtue of its proximity, can be quickly made more effective.

In this sense, the normative changes made with the use of the Motu Proprio more reflect the common and pluralistic universality of the Church, which includes differences without homogeneity, which the Petra service itself guarantees with respect to its unity. Bishop of Rome.