By Deborah Castellano Lubov
Vatican City, May 18, 2022: Pope Francis on May 18 opened doors for brothers to become major superiors of religious congregations that have priests as members.
The Pope promulgated a rescript concerning the possibility of a dispensation from Canon 588 §2 of the Code of Canon Law (CIC), which stipulates that only priests could head congregations that have both priests and brothers.
Major superiors, along with their vicars, are those who govern an entire or a part of a clerical institute, and are called to “devote themselves diligently to their office and together with the members entrusted to them are to strive to build a community of brothers or sisters in Christ,” according to the CIC.
The rescript provides for three separate cases: the supreme moderator of an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life can name a non-cleric as a superior for a local community with the consent of his council.
Likewise, the supreme moderator, acting with the consent of his council, can name a non-cleric as a major superior (provincial or superior general) after having received written permission from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated and Societies of Apostolic Life. A non-cleric or a brother can be elected as a supreme moderator or a major superior, in accordance with the law providing for such cases, but such an election must be confirmed in writing by the congregation.
Pope Francis conceded the rescript to the congregation at a February 11 audience with the prefect, Cardinal João Braz de Aviz.
The rescript regarding major superiors, which will be published in L’Osservatore Romano, and subsequently in the official commentary, the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, entered into force on May 18.
Source: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-05/pope-allows-non-clerics-to-be-major-superiors-in-certain-cases.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NewsletterVN-EN