An Intriguing History : Election of Bishops in the Catholic Church The Early Church restrict it only to the wealthy and From the thirteenth century onward, In the first century, the term bishop powerful. papal intervention in episcopal referred to the leader of a local church elections increased. The pope claimed and was used synonymously with the The Early Middle Ages the right of confirmation on any term presbyter . It was at the turn of the By the end of the sixth century, seeing bishop-elect. Rulers were given the second century in Asia Minor that the Church's flourishing wealth and authority to nominate the candidates bishop had come to mean the power, secular rulers desired to and some, such as the rulers of Spain, monarchical leader of a group of influence the selection of bishops. In were given full power to appoint churches. The western city of Rome, the Byzantine East, the emperors bishops. on the other hand, was lead by a group restricted episcopal elections to clergy of elders and presbyters until Anicetus and nobility, claimed the right to In 1485, Pope Innocent VIII became the first official monarchical nominate the bishop of Constantinople, completely removed any mention of bishop in 154 C.E. and began to require money in return election from the the rite of for confirmations, a practice known as consecrating bishops. Instead of In these early centuries, the simony. pledging fidelity to their archbishop, nominations and elections of bishops the candidate now had to pledge were done solely by a popular vote of In the Latin West, popular elections fidelity to the pope. all the faithful. St. Cyprian believed remained but royal interference elections prevented unworthy persons increased. Kings began to control the The Modern Era from becoming bishops. By the middle nominations and even started choosing Disillusioned with the Church of the third century, however, evidence laymen as bishops. structures, protestant leaders looked shows that women were beginning to towards alternatives. Luther argued the be excluded from the voting. By the tenth century, bishops were full people have the right to choose their feudal lords that even went to war with own bishops, Calvin believed they The Christian Roman Empire complements of troops. The laity were were unnecessary, and Henry VIII The conversion of the Roman Empire removed completely from the election appointed them himself. had dramatic effects on the role of the process and almost all bishops were bishop. Seen as part of the imperial appointed by monarchs, a practice In response, the Council of Trent in the elite, the bishops received their now called lay investiture. Simony became sixteenth century confirmed papal famous palliums, hats, thrones, and the norm. To prevent control by the authority over the whole Catholic rings as signs of their secular authority. empire in 1059 C.E., the Council of Church and the papal right to approve The original term for a bishopric, Cardinals was created to elect the bishops. The rights of cathedral parochia , was replaced with the bishop of Rome. chapters were downplayed and rulers imperial term diocese and began to be continued to be allowed to appoint called the bishop's seat or see . Due to The issue of lay investiture came to a bishops, subject to the pope's approval. their new prestige, Bishops were climax in the fifty year War of prevented from transferring to new Investitures as the Church and the The following three centuries were diocese as it was seen as “covetous”. empire fought for control of appointing marked by an increase in the authority bishops. It concluded in 1122 C.E. with of the imperial papacy. The Church The church in this period was governed the Concordat of Worms which ended continued to make agreements with by councils and authority rested in lay investiture but still gave royalty secular rulers to allow popes to name ecumenical assemblies of all the much influence in elections. bishops. Fearing the spread of bishops. The seeds for papal authority, democracy to the Church, Vatican I in however, were planted in 381 C.E. The Late Middle Ages 1870 issued the doctrines of papal when it was agreed the bishop of Rome By the end of the twelfth century, infallibility and papal primacy, thus enjoyed a primacy of honor since episcopal elections were further limited helping secure absolute authority for Rome was the ancient imperial capital. as new bishops were elected solely by the pope. Thus, preeminence was determined cathedral canons, a bishop's elite group through imperial prominence, not of administrative advisors. The The centralization of Church power apostolic succession. symbols of the bishop were imbued culminated in the 1917 Code of Canon with spiritual significance and the ring Law which legalized and confirmed Popular elections remained the norm was seen as the sign of a bishop being the papal right to appoint all bishops. during this period. The fifth century wedded to his diocese, thus making This same authority was reaffirmed by popes Celestine I and Leo I condemned transfers “spiritual adultery.” As the documents of Vatican II. By 1983, any attempt to impose a bishop without bishops began to reside in the papal Canon Law created structures for popular consent. Yet, there were court in Rome, absenteeism became a bishops to nominate candidates, but the attempts in this era to prevent the major problem. pope is not required to appoint a ordinary laymen from voting and candidate from their nominations. © Juicio Brennan 2008 The Appointment of Bishops in the Catholic Church in the U.S. Ultimately, the authority to appoint The nuncio starts by requesting a and makes a report at a meeting of the bishops rests with the pope who can detailed report on the condition and congregation who then discuss the select anyone he chooses. In order to needs of the diocese and desired appointment and vote. The help the pope know who to select, the qualities of a bishop from the current congregation can follow the nuncio's Church has created a four-step process bishop or administrator of the diocese. recommendation, choose another of nomination in which different voices This report should also contain lists of candidate, or ask that a new terna be can weigh in and help select individuals, both clergy and laypeople, prepared. candidates. the nuncio might want to interview. Step Four – The Pope Each bishop in the United States The nuncio will generally consult a Once the congregation has made their belongs to one of 33 provinces led by series of people including any bishop choice, the prefect presents their an archbishop and split into multiple who had served in the vacant diocese, recommendation and a summarized diocese. It normally takes six to eight other bishops in the province, and the report to the pope. months, but sometimes years, for a president and vice-president of the vacancy to be filled. United States Conference of Catholic A few days later, the pope informs the Bishops. congregation of his decision who then Qualities of a Bishop informs the nuncio who in turn In 1972, the Vatican released explicit After extensive consultation, the approaches the nominee to ask if he qualities to look for in a candidate. nuncio narrows his list of names. In will accept the position. They include: order to get more detailed information – good pastor of souls on each candidate, he sends a standard Auxiliary Bishops – teacher of the faith questionnaire to 20 or 30 people who An auxiliary bishop is appointed to – enjoy a good reputation knew the person. assist a diocesan bishop usually due to – irreproachable morality the needs of a large diocese or to health – right judgment and prudence Upon examining all the collected issues. The process for appointing an – firmly hold the orthodox faith material, the nuncio narrows his list to auxiliary bishop is similar to the – devoted to the Apostolic See three candidates which is called a diocesan except that the provincial – faithful to the magisterium terna . He then prepares a report of bishops are not consulted. The – thorough knowledge of dogmatic approximately twenty pages that diocesan bishop makes the argument and moral theology and canon law synthesizes his investigation. The why he needs an auxiliary and then nuncio then forwards the terna with his submits a list of three candidates Step One – Provincial Bishops preference noted, his report, and all the directly to the nuncio. After secret individual consultation documents he has received to the with the clergy and laity of his diocese, Congregation for Bishops in Rome. Appointment of Bishops in Practice each bishop submits to the archbishop Two-thirds of all bishops were of his province the names of priests he Step Three – appointed as auxiliaries then thinks would make good bishops. The The Congregation for Bishops transferred to diocesan positions, thus archbishop collects these names and The Congregation for Bishops is a skipping step one of the process. On sends the full list along with their department of the Roman Curia led by average, 80% of all bishops worked in respective curriculum vitae to all of the a cardinal prefect that consists of the chancery of a bishop. bishops in his province. approximately 35 cardinals and archbishops. They are responsible for Historically, certain cardinals have After review and discussion of the moderating the appointment of bishops earned the title “kingmaker” because candidates at their annual province as well as other duties such as of their immense influence in the meeting, the provincial bishops vote by establishing conferences for bishops appointment process such as Cardinal secret written ballot to determine and reviewing their decrees.