Last week’s post examined the faculties granted the Dicastery for Evangelisation to facilitate evangelisation and ecclesiastical governance in order to promote the salvation of souls. Today’s post highlights the faculties granted to the papal legates serving in mission territories.
A papal legate is one entrusted to represent the pope in a stable manner in particular churches, states or other public authorities. It includes the apostolic nuncios vested with permanent political and ecclesiastical powers and accredited as part of the diplomatic corps of a country. A papal legate can also be a special envoy sent to particular churches or to a government temporarily (can. 363 §1).
The main function of a pontifical legate is “to continually make stronger and more effective the bonds of unity which exist between the Apostolic See and particular churches” (Can. 364).
In addition to the functions in canon 364 and in line with the spirituality of canon law, faculties were granted to papal legates working in mission territories in 1999.
- To permit a diocese to be erected, that the bishop be consecrated and take possession before the apostolic letter sub plumbo (under a lead seal)arrives.
- To dispense the requirement of canon 382 regarding presenting the apostolic letter to the college of consultors to take possession of the diocese, when convening the college is impossible.
- To prorogue for urgent necessity the time within which the diocesan administrator must be elected by the college of consultors (Can. 421 §1), without prejudice to the provisions of canon 502 §3.
- To appoint a pro-Vicar or pro-Prefect to the vacant see of a vicariate or apostolic prefecture if, for some reason, he was not appointed or he died after the appointment.
- To grant, during the vacant see of a diocese, and at the request of the apostolic or diocesan administrator, in individual and urgent cases, the faculties that fall within the ordinary power of a bishop.
- To permit ecclesiastical juridical persons who by law require permission, to alienate, when there is urgent necessity or there is danger in delay, goods up to double the maximum amount established in accordance with canons 638, § 3 and 1292, § 1, 2 CIC.
- To ensure that justice is observed in the collection and distribution of financial subsidies, particularly those relating to the Pontifical Missionary Works.
- To waive, in whole or in part, the burdens of Masses when it is physically or morally impossible to celebrate them.
- To permit priests, for a just cause, to celebrate three Masses on weekdays, and to celebrate Mass four times even on Sundays and holy days of obligation, for pastoral necessity.
- To grant, if there is some grave pastoral need or advantage, and at the request of the local Ordinary, the celebration of Masses “ad diversa” (Mass for Various Needs) even on days prohibited by liturgical law, except on the days of Easter, the Nativity of the Lord, Ascension, Pentecost, Assumption and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the days of the Easter Triduum.
- To extend once and for a just cause, but not beyond three months, the rescripts granted by the Apostolic See that have already expired.
- To visit, personally or through a priest distinguished by probity, prudence, and doctrine, the persons, places, and things mentioned in canons 397, § 2 (religious institutes of pontifical right and their houses); 628, § 2 ( autonomous monasteries and individual houses of an institute of diocesan); 683 (churches, oratories, schools, and other works of religion and charity entrusted to the religious); 806 (catholic schools) within the territory.
- To inquire, in extraordinary cases and for urgent necessity, about the state of any house or group of consecrated life, consulting the superiors and ensuring that appropriate remedies are adopted for abuses. However, the Holy See should be notified as soon as possible if it seems appropriate to make a decision that would benefit the communities.
- To enter, for just cause, into the papal cloister of monasteries of nuns located within the assigned territory, and to permit, for just and grave cause, others to be admitted into the cloister.
- To impart three times a year, according to the prescribed formula, on days to be personally chosen, the papal blessing with the plenary indulgence that may be gained by those who, having confessed and received communion and recited once for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff the Our Father and the Hail Mary, or another prayer according to their devotion, have received the same blessing.
May God continue to help us🙏🏾
K’ọdị🙋🏾♂️
