Chapter — 1917 Code of Canon Law
Chapter II: Of an Ecumenical Council
Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.
§ 1. There cannot be an Ecumenical Council which has not been convoked by the Roman Pontiff.
§ 2. It belongs to the same Roman Pontiff to preside over an Ecumenical Council by himself or through others, to establish and designate the matters to be treated in it and the order to be observed, to transfer, suspend, or dissolve the Council itself, and to confirm its decrees.
§ 1. Dari nequit Oecumenicum Concilium quod a Romano Pontifice non fuerit convocatum.
§ 2. Eiusdem Romani Pontificis est Oecumenico Concilio per se vel per alios praeesse, res in eo tractandas ordinemque servandum constituere ac designare, Concilium ipsum transferre, suspendere, dissolvere, eiusque decreta confirmare.
1983 Code correlation: can. 338
§ 1. The following are called to a Council and have in it the right of deliberative vote:
1° Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, even if they are not Bishops.
2° Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, and residential Bishops, even not yet consecrated.
3° Abbots or Prelates nullius.
4° The Abbot Primate, Abbot Superiors of monastic Congregations, and supreme Moderators of exempt clerical religions, but not of other religions, unless the decree of convocation provides otherwise.
§ 2. Titular Bishops also, called to a Council, obtain a deliberative vote, unless something else is expressly provided in the convocation.
§ 3. Theologians and experts in the sacred canons, perhaps invited to a Council, do not have a vote except consultative.
§ 1. Vocantur ad Concilium in eoque ius habent suffragii deliberativi:
1° S.R.E. Cardinales, etsi non Episcopi;
2° Patriarchae, Primates, Archiepiscopi, Episcopi residentiales, etiam nondum consecrati;
3° Abbates vel Praelati nullius;
4° Abbas Primas, Abbates Superiores Congregationum monasticarum, ac supremi Moderatores religionum clericalium exemptarum, non autem aliarum religionum, nisi aliud convocationis decretum ferat.
§ 2. Etiam Episcopi titulares, vocati ad Concilium, suffragium obtinent deliberativum, nisi aliud in convocatione expresse caveatur.
§ 3. Theologi ac sacrorum canonum periti, ad Concilium forte invitati, suffragium non habent, nisi consultivum.
1983 Code correlation: can. 339
§ 1. If anyone of those called to a Council according to the norm of can. 223, Sec. 1, detained by a just impediment, cannot be present at it, he is to send a procurator and prove the impediment.
§ 2. The procurator, if he was one of the Fathers of the Council, does not enjoy a double vote; if he was not, he can be present only at public sessions, but without a vote; when the Council has been completed, however, he has the right of signing its acts.
§ 1. Si quis ex vocatis ad Concilium ad normam can. 223, § 1, eidem, iusto impedimento detentus, interesse non possit, mittat procuratorem et impedimentum probet.
§ 2. Procurator, si fuerit unus e Concilii Patribus, duplici suffragio non gaudet; si non fuerit, publicis tantum sessionibus interesse potest, sed sine suffragio; expleto autem Concilio, huius acta subscribendi ius habet.
It is lawful for none of those who must be present at the Council to depart before the Council has been duly completed, unless the cause of departure has been learned and approved by the president of the Council and permission to leave has been obtained.
Nemini eorum qui Concilio interesse debent, licet ante discedere, quam Concilium sit rite absolutum, nisi a Concilii praeside cognita ac probata discessionis causa et impetrata abeundi licentia.
After questions have been proposed by the Roman Pontiff, the Fathers can add others, but only those previously approved by the president of the Council.
Propositis a Romano Pontifice quaestionibus Patres possunt alias addere, a Concilii tamen praeside antea probatas.
1983 Code correlation: can. 338
Decrees of a Council do not have definitive binding force unless they have been confirmed by the Roman Pontiff and promulgated by his order.
Concilii decreta vim definitivam obligandi non habent, nisi a Romano Pontifice fuerint confirmata et eius iussu promulgata.
1983 Code correlation: can. 341
§ 1. An Ecumenical Council possesses supreme power over the universal Church.
§ 2. From a sentence of the Roman Pontiff no appeal is given to an Ecumenical Council.
§ 1. Concilium Oecumenicum suprema pollet in universam Ecclesiam potestate.
§ 2. A sententia Romani Pontificis non datur ad Concilium Oecumenicum appellatio.
1983 Code correlation: can. 333
If it happens that the Roman Pontiff dies during the celebration of a Council, by the law itself the Council is interrupted until the new Pontiff orders it to be resumed and continued.
Si contingat Romanum Pontificem, durante Concilii celebratione, e vita decedere, ipso iure hoc intermittitur, donec novus Pontifex illud resumi et continuari iusserit.
1983 Code correlation: can. 340