Non-Clerics are Now Permitted to be Major Superiors of Religious Orders with Promulgation of a Rescript of Pope Francis
Pope Francis grants the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life faculties to allow non-clerics to serve as “major superiors” in religious communities. This was permitted with the promulgation of the following rescript:
Rescript of the Holy Father Francis regarding the derogation from can. 588 §2 CIC, 18.05.2022
The Holy Father Francis, in the audience of 11 February this year to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect and Archbishop Secretary has granted the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life the faculty to authorize, at its discretion and in individual cases, to non-clerical associates the conferment of the office of Major Superior in clerical religious institutes of pontifical right and in clerical societies of apostolic life of pontifical right of the Latin Church and dependent on it, notwithstanding can. 588 §2 CIC and the proper law of the Institute of Consecrated Life or of the Society of Apostolic Life, without prejudice to can. 134 §1.
1. The non-clerical companion of an Institute of consecrated life or a society of clerical apostolic life of pontifical right is appointed local superior by the supreme moderator with the consent of his council.
2. A non-cleric companion of an Institute of consecrated life or of a clerical society of apostolic life of pontifical right is appointed major superior, after having obtained a written license from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life at the request of the Supreme Moderator with the consent of the Council.
3. A non-clerical companion of an Institute of consecrated life or of a Society of clerical apostolic life of Pontifical Right elected Supreme Moderator or Major Superior, according to the modalities provided for by proper law, requires confirmation - by written license - of the Congregation for Institutes of consecrated life and Societies of apostolic life.
4. In the cases provided for in §§2-3, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life reserves the right to evaluate the individual case and the reasons given by the Supreme Moderator or by the General Chapter.
The Holy Father also ordered that this Rescript be published in L’Osservatore Romano, and subsequently in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, entering into force today.
From the Vatican, 18 May 2022
João Braz Card. De Aviz
Prefect
José Rodríguez Carballo, O.F.M.
Archbishop Secretary
The Holy Father Francis, in the audience of 11 February this year to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect and Archbishop Secretary has granted the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life the faculty to authorize, at its discretion and in individual cases, to non-clerical associates the conferment of the office of Major Superior in clerical religious institutes of pontifical right and in clerical societies of apostolic life of pontifical right of the Latin Church and dependent on it, notwithstanding can. 588 §2 CIC and the proper law of the Institute of Consecrated Life or of the Society of Apostolic Life, without prejudice to can. 134 §1.
1. The non-clerical companion of an Institute of consecrated life or a society of clerical apostolic life of pontifical right is appointed local superior by the supreme moderator with the consent of his council.
2. A non-cleric companion of an Institute of consecrated life or of a clerical society of apostolic life of pontifical right is appointed major superior, after having obtained a written license from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life at the request of the Supreme Moderator with the consent of the Council.
3. A non-clerical companion of an Institute of consecrated life or of a Society of clerical apostolic life of Pontifical Right elected Supreme Moderator or Major Superior, according to the modalities provided for by proper law, requires confirmation - by written license - of the Congregation for Institutes of consecrated life and Societies of apostolic life.
4. In the cases provided for in §§2-3, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life reserves the right to evaluate the individual case and the reasons given by the Supreme Moderator or by the General Chapter.
The Holy Father also ordered that this Rescript be published in L’Osservatore Romano, and subsequently in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, entering into force today.
From the Vatican, 18 May 2022
João Braz Card. De Aviz
Prefect
José Rodríguez Carballo, O.F.M.
Archbishop Secretary
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