Article — 1917 Code of Canon Law
Article II: Of the Apostolic Signatura
Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura consists of some Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, one of whom performs the office of Prefect.
Supremum Signaturae Apostolicae Tribunal constat nonnullis S. R. E. Cardinalibus, quorum unus Praefecti munere fungitur.
§ 1. The Apostolic Signatura sees by ordinary power:
1° Concerning violation of secrecy, and concerning damages inflicted by Auditors of the Sacred Rota because they placed a null or unjust act.
2° Concerning an exception of suspicion against some Auditor of the Sacred Rota.
3° Concerning a complaint of nullity against a rotal sentence.
4° Concerning a petition for restitution in integrum against a rotal sentence which has passed into a judged matter.
5° Concerning recourses against rotal sentences in matrimonial causes which the Sacred Rota refused to admit to a new examination.
6° Concerning a conflict of competence which happens to arise among inferior tribunals, according to the norm of can. 1612, Sec. 2.
§ 2. It sees by delegated power concerning petitions presented by supplicatory libelli to the Most Holy One for obtaining the commission of a cause before the Sacred Rota.
§ 1. Apostolica Signatura videt potestate ordinaria:
1° De violatione secreti, ac de damnis ab Auditoribus Sacrae Rotae illatis eo quod actum nullum vel iniustum posuerint;
2° De exceptione suspicionis contra aliquem Sacrae Rotae Auditorem;
3° De querela nullitatis contra sententiam rotalem;
4° De expostulatione pro restitutione in integrum adversus rotalem sententiam quae in rem iudicatam transierit;
5° De recursibus adversus sententias rotales in causis matrimonialibus quas ad novum examen Sacra Rota admittere renuit;
6° De conflictu competentiae quem enasci contingat inter tribunalia inferiora, ad normam can. 1612, § 2.
§ 2. Videt ex potestate delegata de petitionibus per supplices libellos ad Sanctissimum porrectis ad obtinendam causae commissionem apud Sacram Rotam.
1983 Code correlation: can. 1445
§ 1. In a criminal cause, of which in can. 1603, Sec. 1, n. 1, if perhaps there is place for a judgment of appeal, this is obtained before the Supreme Tribunal itself.
§ 2. In a case of suspicion, the Apostolic Signatura defines whether there is place for the recusation of the Auditor or not; when this has been done, it remits the trial to the Sacred Rota so that, according to its ordinary rules, it may proceed, the Auditor against whom the exception was moved remaining in his turn or being excluded.
§ 3. In a case of complaint of nullity or restitution in integrum or recourse of which in can. 1603, Sec. 1, nn. 3, 4, 5, it judges only this: whether the rotal sentence is null, whether there is place for restitution, or whether the recourse is to be admitted; and, nullity having been declared or restitution having been granted or the recourse having been admitted, it remits the cause to the Sacred Rota, unless the Most Holy One has provided otherwise.
§ 4. In the examination of supplicatory libelli, the Signatura, having obtained opportune information and having heard those whose interest it is, decrees whether the prayers are to be granted or not.
§ 1. In causa criminali, de qua in can. 1603, § 1, n. 1, si forte locus sit iudicio appellationis, hoc obtinetur penes ipsum Supremum Tribunal.
§ 2. In casu suspicionis, Apostolica Signatura definit utrum sit locus recusationi Auditoris, necne; quo facto, iudicium ad Sacram Rotam remittit, ut, secundum suas regulas ordinarias, procedat, Auditore, contra quem exceptio mota fuit, in suo turno manente vel excluso.
§ 3. In casu querelae nullitatis aut restitutionis in integrum aut recursus de quibus in can. 1603, § 1, nn. 3, 4, 5, de hoc tantum iudicat num sit nulla sententia rotalis, num locus sit restitutioni vel recursus sit admittendus; et nullitate declarata aut restitutione concessa vel admisso recursu, causam remittit ad Sacram Rotam, nisi Sanctissimus aliter providerit.
§ 4. In examine supplicum libellorum Signatura, habitis opportunis notitiis et auditis iis quorum interest, decernit utrum precibus annuendum sit, necne.
§ 1. Sentences of the Supreme Tribunal of the Signatura have their force, although they do not contain the reasons in fact and in law.
§ 2. Nevertheless, either at the instance of a party or from office, if the matter demands it, the Supreme Tribunal can decree that the aforesaid reasons be set forth according to the rules proper to the Tribunal.
§ 1. Supremi Tribunalis Signaturae sententiae suam vim habent, quamvis rationes in facto et in iure non contineant.
§ 2. Nihilominus sive ad instantiam partis sive ex officio, si res postulet, Supremum Tribunal edicere potest ut praedictae rationes exponantur secundum regulas Tribunalis proprias.