VATICAN (UCAN): Pope Francis modified the Code of Canons of the Eastern Rite Churches, giving the Apostolic See the final authority on dioceses establishing religious congregations, announcing it in an apostolic letter, Ab initio, issued motu proprio (own initiative). The letter said the Church always supported various forms of consecrated life as a “manifestation of the richness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
The amendments, which became effective on December 8, make it mandatory for any diocesan bishop of the Eastern Churches to seek written permission from the Vatican before starting a religious congregation.
This comes after the pope made similar changes in Latin Rite Church laws on November 4.
Archbishop Giorgio Demetrio Gallaro, secretary for the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, said Pope Francis was putting in place a similar law for the whole Catholic Church.
The archbishop said there had been many new forms of consecrated life since the Second Vatican Council, which at times have led to duplications and that the changes aim to curb these duplications Vatican News reported.
The apostolic letter noted that the consecrated life began the Eastern Church with the early Christians and then manifested in the west. It has helped the growth of the entire Body of Christ in multiple ways.
There are 23 Oriental or Eastern Catholic Churches that are autonomous but in full communion with the pope. Two are based in India—the Syro-Malabar Church and Syro-Malankara Church.
The five liturgical traditions of the Eastern Churches include the Alexandrian Rite, the Armenian Rite, the Byzantine Rite, the East Syriac Rite, and the West Syriac Rite.
The Churches are headed by patriarchs, metropolitans and major archbishops, and are governed based on the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
