Source: http://www.clsadb.com/document/fc0f18bc-c58d-49ef-9947-c01a821da039
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 18:29:09+00:00

Document:
Synod of Bishops, The Order for the Synod of Bishops, 29 September 2006.
At the same time, the Supreme Pontiff directs that the present text of the Order of the Synod of Bishops be conscientiously observed by all those to whom it pertains.
Given at the Vatican, 29 September 2006.
As the work of the Second Vatican Council progressed, the idea arose that the Roman Pontiff utilize his union with the Bishops in a more visible and efficacious manner in carrying out his office as Supreme Pastor of the Church.2 To achieve this end, Pope Paul VI, with the Apostolic Letter Apostolica Sollicitudo (15 September 1965), instituted the Synod of Bishops,3 establishing its structure and responsibilities. References to this new institution can be found in the Decrees of the Second Vatican Council Christus Dominus, 5 and Ad Gentes, 29.
Likewise, to address specific needs which arose during synodal proceedings, it was necessary over the years to add further norms, such as Procedural Norms for Discussion Groups and some Explanatory Comments on certain articles of the Ordo Synodi.
Forty years of experience in celebrating synodal assemblies pointed to the urgency of another revision of the Ordo Synodi Episcoporum, which included adding juridical elements from other related norms published from time to time.
The text of The Procedural Norms for Discussion Groups is found in the appendix of this present document.
9º to conclude, to transfer, to suspend, to disband the Synod.
§2. If the Apostolic See becomes vacant or impeded after the convocation of the Synod or during its celebration, the Synod is immediately suspended, until the new Pontiff establishes whether to continue it or to convoke a new assembly.
§1. The President-Delegate presides over the Assembly in the name and by the authority of the Roman Pontiff.
§2. The President-Delegate is appointed by the Roman Pontiff; his office ceases at the conclusion of the Assembly for which he is appointed.
§3. If the Roman Pontiff has delegated several persons to preside over the Assembly, they exercise their office in turns according to the order set by the Roman Pontiff.
3º to sign the Acts of the Assembly. If there are several President-Delegates, all sign the Acts concluding the Assembly.
1º in an Ordinary General Assembly, if the topic for discussion, by its very nature and importance, is for the good of the universal Church, and seems to require the learning, prudence and counsel of the entire Catholic episcopate.
2º in an Extraordinary General Assembly, if the topic for discussion demands immediate attention for the good of the entire Church.
3º in a Special Assembly, if the topic for discussion is of great importance to the good of the Church, but only in reference to one or more particular regions.
2º The Heads of the Departments of the Roman Curia.
1º Patriarchs, Major Archbishops, Metropolitans of the Metropolitan Churchessui iuris of the Eastern Catholic Churches or a Bishop, competent in the material to be treated at the Synod, designated by the Patriarch, Major Archbishop or Metropolitan of the Metropolitan Churches sui iuris, with the consensus of the Synod of Bishops or the Council of the Hierarchy of the Churches over which they preside; Eastern Bishops elected according to the norms of Article 5, §1, 1º b), as well as the representatives of both Episcopal Conferences of one or more nations, and of Religious Clerical Institutes as set down in the same Article, §1, in Article 6, §1, 4º, and for the number of Religious, in Article 6, §2, 4º; however, all are to pertain to the regions on whose behalf the Synod is convoked.
§4. At the individual assemblies there are also Members, Bishops or Religious from Clerical Religious Institutes or Ecclesiastics who are specialists in the material to be treated, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff, up to 15% of the total number of Members.
1º Bishops are to be delegated by the Episcopal Conferences of one or more nations through an election by secret ballot at a plenary session of the conference.
2º Such elections are done in accord with the norms set down in canon 119, 1º of the Code of Canon Law. If more than one Member is to be elected, an individual vote is taken for the election of each Member, so that not more than one Member is elected with each voting.
d) 4 for each national Episcopal Conference having more than 100 Members.
4º The Episcopal Conferences comprised of many nations choose those who represent them according to the same norms.
5º The Eastern Catholic Churches, in addition to what is stipulated in Article 5, §1, 1º a), can elect one representative, according to the norms of canon 956, §1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, for a Synod of Bishops or Council of the Hierarchy the Church which might have 26 to 50 Members or two representatives for a Synod or Council of the Hierarchy which might have 51 to 100 Members.
6º In electing Bishops, great attention should be given not only to their knowledge and prudence in a general sense, but also to their theoretical and practical experience in the material to be treated at the Synod.
7º The Heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches, referred to in Article 5, §1, 1º a), and the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences are to communicate the name(s) of the one(s) elected to the General Secretary through the papal representative of the given nation, at least 5 months before the opening of the Assembly.
1º The election of Men-Religious, referred to in Article 5 of this Ordo, is to be done bearing in mind the individual election procedure mentioned in §1, 2º of this Article.
2º In electing Men-Religious, attention should be given not only to their knowledge and prudence in a general sense but also to their theoretical and practical experience in the material to be treated at the Synod.
3º The President of the Union of Superiors General is to communicate the names of those elected to the General Secretary at least 5 months before the opening of the Assembly.
4º For a Special Assembly, the Union of Superiors General is to elect not more than two Men-Religious Members, representatives of the Clerical Religious Institutes, who know both the material for treatment and the territory for which the Synod is convoked, even if they do not belong to this territory.
§3. The names of the Bishops and Religious who are elected are not to be made known to the public until their election is ratified by the Roman Pontiff.
§4. The Synods of Bishops, the Councils of the Hierarchy of the Eastern Catholic Churches, the Episcopal Conferences and the Union of Superiors General, in reference to §1 and §2, are to elect one or two alternate Members or Substitutes, who, with the approval of the Roman Pontiff, will take part in the Synod in the event that the persons whose place they take, are unable to be present.
§5. At the beginning of each synodal assembly the elected Members are to present to the Roman Pontiff, through the General Secretary, the official document of their deputation signed by Head of the respective Eastern Catholic Church, the President and the Secretary of the individual conference, or, in the case of Religious, by the President and Secretary of the Union of Superiors General.
3º Fraternal Delegates (Delegati Fraterni), who represent Churches and Ecclesial Communities, which are not in full communion with the Catholic Church.
1º If the topic to be treated in the Synod needs further development, the President-Delegate can, with the approval of the Roman Pontiff, form various Commissions of Study from among the Members.
2º The primary responsibility of each Commission is to devote study to achieving a better redaction of texts or to finding a solution to a proposed difficulty.
§2. Unless the Roman Pontiff has decided otherwise, each commission is comprised of 12 Members, specialists on the subject, of which 8 are elected from the Assembly and 4 are appointed by the Roman Pontiff.
§3. With the approval of the Roman Pontiff, a Commission is also to be established, according to the preceding Article §2, for the composition of a possible Message or another document which is to be published, after having received the approval of the Synod Fathers.
1º The election of the Members of the Commission of Study is done according to the norms set down in canon 119, 1º of the Code of Canon Law.
2º The Roman Pontiff chooses the President from among those elected or appointed.
3º Any Synod Father can be elected as a Member of a Commission with the exception of the President-Delegate, the General Secretary, and the General Relator.
4º The Secretary of the Commission is to be one of the Members elected by the Members themselves.
5º The Special Secretary is to take part in the Commission of Study by helping in the discussion of the subject for which the Commission was established.
At the beginning of each assembly the Roman Pontiff is to establish a Commission of 3 Members with the task of examining in a due manner any disputes that have been submitted and bringing them to the Roman Pontiff.
§1. The General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops is a permanent institution in service of the Synod, and established as a connection between the various synodal assemblies.
§2. The General Secretary and the Council of the Secretariat are part of the General Secretariat, each according to his task.
§2. It is the responsibility of the General Secretary to carry out the directives of the Roman Pontiff and to communicate to him all matters related to the Synod of Bishops.
§3. The General Secretary participates as a Member in synodal assemblies. At the beginning of synodal work, he presents a Report on the preparation of the Synod, directs the operation of the General Secretariat and undersigns all its activities.
§4. It is equally the task of the General Secretary to prepare the work of the Council of the Secretariat and to serve as moderator at the meetings.
§6. The collaborators of the General Secretary, appointed by him with the approval of the Roman Pontiff, are subject to him.
§7. The same collaborators are chosen from among ecclesiastics who are properly disposed to the work through their knowledge and prudence.
§8. If need be, some specialists in technical matters can be enlisted by the General Secretary, with the approval of the Roman Pontiff.
§1. At the end of each ordinary general synodal assembly, the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat is formed.
§2. The Council is comprised of 15 Members; 12 of whom are elected from the Synod, taking into account the representation of Bishops scattered throughout the world, and 3 designated by the Roman Pontiff.
§3. The selection of Members is done through an election which has the force of law, when, after subtracting invalid ballots, an absolute majority of votes is cast in favor of a person, or after the first ineffective balloting, the relative majority is received on a second ballot. If, however, the votes are equal, the matter proceeds according to the norms of canon 119, 1º, in the Code of Canon Law.
§4. The Bishops elected to the Council of the General Secretariat retain their proper office until the beginning of a new Ordinary General Assembly.
§6. The Members of the Council of the General Secretariat are convoked by the General Secretary twice a year and in addition, as often as, subject to the judgment of the Roman Pontiff, it will seem opportune.
§7. Analogous to Ordinary General Assemblies, Special Councils of the General Secretariat are formed at the conclusion of a Special Assembly for a period of five years, after which the Roman Pontiff is to decide whether to abolish the Council, re-confirm it or substitute Members.
§1. The General Relator is appointed by the Roman Pontiff for each assembly.
§2. The Special Secretary is appointed by the Roman Pontiff for each assembly that might treat a subject in which he might have expertise.
§3. If the subjects are different, a Special Secretary is appointed for each of them.
§4. If a case warrants it, some assistants to the Special Secretary are appointed by the Roman Pontiff, according to the norms in Article 7, 1º.
§5. With the dissolution of the Assembly the office of the General Relator and the Special Secretary ceases.
1º preparing the Introductory Presentation (Relatio ante disceptationem) and the Concluding Presentation (Relatio post disceptationem), referred to in Articles 31 and 32.
2º presiding over the preparation of the Proposals (Propositiones) or other documents, composed under the auspices of the Special Secretary, for submission to the vote of the Synod Fathers, and presenting them in plenary session.
2º coordinating, under the direction of the General Relator, the work of the experts in the composition of the Proposals (Propositiones) or other documents for submission to the vote of the Synod Fathers.
§3. The Special Secretary is at the disposal of the President-Delegate, the General Relator and the General Secretary; for preparing documents and reports, for providing information briefings and explanations in response to requests; and finally, for helping to draw up the Acts.
§4. In the discussion of the topic, it is permissible for each Synod Father, with the approval of the President-Delegate and in conformity with the order established by him, to seek explanations and information, from both the General Relator and, above all, the Special Secretary.
§1. To provide information on the sessions and work of the Synod, a special commission is to be established, made up of the following Members: the President and Vice-President, appointed by the Roman Pontiff, the General Secretary of the Synod, the Special Secretary of the Synod, the President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, and five Synod Fathers designated by the President-Delegate, according to a list of candidates proposed by the President of the Commission.
§2. The Secretary of the Commission is to be the Director of the Holy See Press Office.
§3. It is the task of the Commission, with the approval of the President-Delegate, to establish the criteria and manner of supplying information.
§4. Likewise, press conferences on individual subjects are to be given to journalists by Synod Fathers, designated by the President of the Commission, with the approval of the President-Delegate.
§1. The Synod of Bishops is convoked by the Roman Pontiff at opportune times and ways.
§2. It is the task of the President-Delegate to indicate the day and hour of each successive congregation and the material for treatment according to the pre-established order.
§3. The convocation of individuals is to take place only when the President-Delegate will have judged it necessary.
During the sessions of the assembly, the Members, to whom it pertains, are to wear the cassock consistent with their office; others are to wear their proper habit and public attire.
§1. For establishing precedence, the prescriptions of the canons and custom are to be observed.
§2. If one of the Members sits out of the order of precedence, and, in this place, gives an opinion or acts, he does not acquire any right nor prejudice anyone by so doing.
Except for the prescription of Article 16, all those who participate in the Synod are bound to secrecy as regards both the preparation and the actual work of the assembly, above all as regards the opinions and votes of individuals, and also the decisions and conclusions of the assembly.
The Latin language is to be used in the sessions of the Synod and in the drafting of the Acts. The President-Delegate can authorize the use of other languages.
§1. All the Acts and documents are collected and distributed through the General Secretary.
§2. The subjects which ought to be treated in the synodal assembly are communicated before the beginning of the assembly, so as to provide time for the convocation of the concerned bodies to consult their Members.
§1. It is necessary that the subjects for discussion, determined by the Roman Pontiff in convoking the Synod, be attentively studied before-hand by the Synods of Bishops, by the Councils of the Hierarchy of the Eastern Catholic Churches, by each Episcopal Conference, by the Departments of the Roman Curia and by the Union of Superiors General.
§2. In treating these subjects, each Episcopal Conference expresses its common opinion, according to a manner judged most opportune.
§3. This opinion is expressed in the assembly of the Synod by individual Members designated for the Synod.
§4. The consensus of the Synod Fathers, at the conclusion of synodal debate, is expressed in Proposals (Propositiones) or in other documents, submitted to vote and then offered to the Roman Pontiff as the conclusions of the Synod.
After the Members have expressed the opinion mentioned in Article 23, §3, if the Roman Pontiff shall have so determined, voting will take place.
§1. In the Synod, voting is expressed using the formula: placet, non placet, placet iuxta modum, if voting is for the approval of a schema, either in whole or in part; the formula placet or non placet is used for approval of emendments and other voting.
§2. The one who votes according to the formula, placet iuxta modum is bound to present the emendment (modum) in writing, in a clear and concise manner.
§3. The votes are expressed on specially printed ballots, unless the President-Delegate decides otherwise, for example, by standing or a show of hands.
§1. To arrive at the majority of votes, if the vote is for the approval of some item, 2/3 of the votes of the Members casting ballots is required; if for the rejection of some item, the absolute majority of the same Members is necessary.
§2. What is prescribed in §1 is applies both in the case of a proposal intended for the Roman Pontiff, as well as for discussions, after having obtained the consent of the Roman Pontiff himself.
§3. Questions of procedure are resolved each time by an absolute majority of the voting Members.
Whoever is not able to attend a session must make the reason for his absence known to the President-Delegate through the General Secretary.
All those who are bound to be present at the Synod or in whatever capacity they legitimately lend their work, during the length of the assembly and as long as they are present and working, are excused from their residency requirement and are to receive income according to their customary office.
§1. The synodal assembly is opened with the celebration of Mass and the Hymn, Veni, Creator Spiritus.
§2. In the same manner, the assembly is closed with the celebration of Mass and the Hymn, Te Deum.
At the opening of the session of the synodal assembly, the General Secretary, if it is necessary, will read the papal document appointing the President-Delegate, after which he immediately assumes his office.
§1. The Introductory Presentation, setting forth and developing the material to be treated at the synod and specifying points for discussion, is prepared by the General Relator, who is entrusted with this office by the Roman Pontiff at the time of the convocation of each synodal assembly.
§2. The General Relator is assisted by the Special Secretary.
§3. The text of the Introductory Presentation to be given at the synod is to be submitted at least 30 days before the opening date of the synod to the General Secretary, who then prepares copies for the Members.
At the conclusion of the Synod Fathers interventions, the General Relator, taking subjects touched upon in the Synod Hall, presents a summary of the discussion called the Concluding Presentation, proposing points for possible discussion in the Small Groups (Circuli Minores) or in another manner.
The President-Delegate announces the topic for discussion and calls on the General Relator who summarily gives his Presentation, previously prepared and distributed to the Synod Fathers, using the help, if necessary, of the Special Secretary.
1º The President-Delegate, according to a list prepared by the General Secretary, calls upon the Members to speak, who have submitted their names for this purpose the day before.
2º The Synod Fathers who have petitioned to speak, give their interventions according to the order in which their request was submitted.
3º Those who represent the Synods of Bishops, the Councils of the Hierarchy of the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Episcopal Conferences may speak in their name, according to the faculties given them.
4º On one and the same topic, only one synod father speaks in the name of the bodies concerned.
1º If many have requested to speak, the Synod Fathers are asked not to repeat what has already been stated, but to refer to it briefly.
2º In the same case, it is the responsibility of the President-Delegate, either personally or through one of the Members delegated by him (Article 3, 2º), to call a separate meeting of the Synod Fathers, so as to come to an agreement on a few speaking in the name of all according to the different opinions, all the while respecting the liberty of all.
1º Synod Fathers who present their request to speak and do not speak are to submit to the General Secretariat their observations in writing, which will be examined and taken into consideration in the same manner as interventions given in the synod hall.
2º Those who speak, however, are to adhere to the time established by the President-Delegate.
§4. With the assent of the Roman Pontiff, a open discussion by the Synod Fathers can take place at determined times, in a manner established by the General Secretary in conjunction with the President-Delegate.
§5. It is the responsibility of the President-Delegate to propose to the Synod Fathers, assembled in the synod hall, the end of discussion, in which case the determination is reached by a majority of votes.
After the interventions of the Synod Fathers, the President-Delegate, if he judges it opportune, can move the treatment of the topic to Small Groups, which are to follow the Procedural Norms included in these Statutes. In these groups, designated according to the language spoken, the Synod Fathers elect a Moderator and a Relator. At the end of the discussion of the topic, the Synod Fathers assign to the Relator the task of speaking in their name in the general congregation.
§1. If any Synod Father, after having listened to the opinions of others, wishes to respond or disagree with anything, he can request such permission from the President-Delegate.
§2. The President-Delegate has the authority to grant permission to respond and to set a day on which the response is to be given.
§3. On the appointed day, the President-Delegate, according to a list prepared by the General Secretary, calls upon the Synod Fathers who have requested to make a response.
§4. If the President-Delegate has not defined the length of the responses, the individual speakers are to limit their responses to a very brief comment.
§5. The speakers can make a response in the name of a group of Members; in such case, they ought to indicate in whose name they are speaking.
§6. The responses must be submitted in writing to the General Secretary.
§1. If it becomes obvious after the intervening discussions that a topic needs further development, the President-Delegate, with the consent of the Roman Pontiff, and in a manner determined by him, according to Article 8, can establish a special commission for this purpose.
§2. In the meantime the examination of other topics proceeds.
1º When the Study Commission will have reached its conclusions, a Relator, delegated by the commission, is to explain them to the Members.
2º At the request of the Synod Fathers, the President-Delegate can concede a very brief discussion on these conclusions; such a discussion is to be conducted according to Article 34.
§1. After the discussion, the individual participants express their judgment on the opinions of Article 23, §2, with a written opinion to be submitted to the General Secretary.
§2. If the Roman Pontiff wishes a vote is to be taken, it is done according to the norms of Articles 24-26.
§1. The General Relator, the Special Secretary and the General Secretary, after considering the emendments, oversee the composition and printing of the Proposals or other possible documents.
§2. At an established time, the Synod Fathers, after having the reading of the texts, proceed to vote on them.
§3. Voting is done with the formula: placet or non placet.
§4. After the vote, the Proposals or other documents are submitted to the Roman Pontiff, according to Article 23, §4.
At the end of the work of the Assembly, the General Secretary prepares a Report (Relatio circa Labores Peractos) which describes the treatment of the topic or topics examined and the conclusions reached by the Synod Fathers.
The report referred to in Article 40 is submitted to the Roman Pontiff by the General Secretary.
In the course of synod discussion, the President-Delegate relegates certain questions, indicated in his Concluding Presentation, for a more in-depth treatment to the Small Groups which are formed according to the various spoken languages (cf. Article 35, Order of the Synod). Each Synod Father is to participate in a group which is assigned according to the individuals choice of language. All groups are to treat the same topics.
The goal of these Small Groups is to provide the Synod Fathers with the opportunity of expressing their opinions and comparing them with others so as to arrive at the point where together they can distinguish opposing views. The comparing of ideas should lead to a greater possible accord or even — it is hoped — to a general consensus, while always bearing in mind opposing or diverse opinions.
The Synod Fathers are to be divided into Small Groups according to the following languages: Latin, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish together with Portuguese. If too many Synod Fathers ask to be included in the same group, that group can be further divided into two or more groups of the same language. The division into groups is to be done in the usual manner according to the alphabetical order found in the list of names of the Synod Fathers.
§1. The Moderator of each group is to be one of the Synod Fathers of that group. He is to be elected at the beginning of the first session by the Members of the same group, in a secret vote (cf. C.I.C., canon 172; C.C.E.O., canon 954), cast on a ballot, by a relative majority.
— to distinguish which arguments ought to be treated before others and to set the time for speakers, if this is considered to be necessary because of the limitation of time.
§1. The Relator of each Small Group is to be one of the Synod Fathers of that group. He is elected by the Members of the same group, by secret vote (cf. C.I.C., canon 172; C.C.E.O., canon 954), cast on a ballot, by a relative majority. The election is to take place at the beginning of the first session.
— to give the Report in plenary assembly.
§1. The Secretary of each group is to be an assistant of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
— to prepare a written report on the proceedings of the group for submission to the General Secretariat.
At a time established by the President-Delegate, the Relators, in the name of all the Members of their groups, presents in General Congregation the Report referred to in Article 5, §2.
When the presentation of the Reports of the Small Groups in the General Congregation is concluded, according to Article 36 (Order of the Synod of Bishops), permission to respond can be given to the Synod Fathers who might wish to add to, change or explain what has been said in the Reports_.
After the Presentations in the General Congregation, the President-Delegate, according to Article 34 of the Order of the Synod of Bishops, initiates a discussion in the synod hall on the proposals of the Small Groups.
1 AAS 98 (2006), pp. 775-779.
2 Cf. PAUL VI, Discourse to the Roman Curia (21 September 1963): Insegnamenti di Paolo VI, I (1963), p. 149; Apostolica Sollicitudo, Introduction, paragraphs 1, 2, 4.
3 PAUL VI, Apostolic Letter Apostolica Sollicitudo: AAS 57 (1965), 775-780.
4 Cf. CODE OF CANON LAW, canon 342.
5 Cf. PAUL VI, Apostolica Sollicitudo, Introduction, paragraph 4.
6 Cf. PAUL VI, Apostolica Sollicitudo, Introduction, paragraph 1; SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops Christus Dominus, n. 5; JOHN PAUL II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastoris Gregis (16 October 2003), n. 58: AAS 96 (2004) 902-905.
7 JOHN PAUL II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastoris Gregis (16 October 2003), n. 58: AAS 96 (2004) 902-905.
8 Cf. CODE OF CANON LAW, principally in canons 342-348.
9 Cf. CODE OF CANON LAW, canon 334; CODE OF CANONS OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES, canon 46.
10 Cf. ORDO SYNODI EPISCOPORUM, AAS 59 (1967) 91-103.
11 ORDO SYNODI EPISCOPORUM CELEBRANDAE RECOGNITUS ET AUCTUS (24 June 1969): AAS 61 (1969) 525-539; ORDO SYNODI EPISCOPORUM CELEBRANDAE RECOGNITUS ET AUCTUS NONNULLIS ADDITAMENTIS (20 August 1971): AAS 63 (1971) 702-704.

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