Chapter — 1917 Code of Canon Law
Chapter IX: Of Apostolic Administrators
Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.
The Supreme Pontiff sometimes, for grave and special causes, commits the governance of a canonically erected diocese, whether the see is full or vacant, to an Apostolic Administrator either perpetually or for a time.
Dioecesis canonice erectae regimen, sive plena, sive vacante sede, aliquando Summus Pontifex ob graves et speciales causas Administratori Apostolico vel in perpetuum vel ad tempus committit.
1983 Code correlation: can. 371
§ 1. Any Apostolic Administrator, if he has been given to a diocese with the see full, enters into canonical possession of administration by showing the letters of his nomination both to the Bishop, if he is of sound mind and counsel and is staying in the diocese, and also to the Chapter, according to the norm of can. 334, Sec. 3.
§ 2. If the see has been vacant, or if the Bishop is not of sound mind and counsel, or is not residing in the diocese, the Apostolic Administrator takes possession in the manner of a Bishop according to the cited can. 334, Sec. 3.
§ 1. Quilibet Administrator Apostolicus, si datus fuerit dioecesi, sede plena, canonicam administrationis possessionem init, ostendens litteras suae nominationis tum Episcopo, si sit mentis consiliique compos et in dioecesi versetur, tum etiam Capitulo, ad normam can. 334, § 3.
§ 2. Si sedes fuerit vacans, vel si Episcopus non sit mentis consiliique compos, aut in dioecesi non moretur, Administrator Apostolicus possessionem sumit ad instar Episcopi secundum cit. can. 334, § 3.
The rights, duties, and privileges of an Apostolic Administrator are to be taken from the letters of his deputation, or, unless something else is expressly provided in them, from the prescription of the canons which follow.
Iura, officia ac privilegia Administratoris Apostolici desumantur ex litteris suae deputationis, vel, nisi in eisdem aliud caveatur expresse, ex praescripto canonum qui sequuntur.
§ 1. An Apostolic Administrator constituted permanently enjoys the same rights and honors, and is bound by the same obligations, as a residential Bishop.
§ 2. If he has been given for a time:
1° He has the same rights and duties as a Capitular Vicar; but, with the see full, he can visit the diocese according to the path of law; nor is he bound by the obligation of applying Mass for the people, which burdens the Bishop.
2° As regards honorific privileges, the prescription of can. 308 is to have force; but to a Bishop who, transferred to another see, retains the administration of the former, all the honorific privileges of residential Bishops also belong in this administration.
§ 1. Administrator Apostolicus permanenter constitutus iisdem iuribus et honoribus fruitur, iisdemque obligationibus tenetur, ac Episcopus residentialis.
§ 2. Si ad tempus datus sit:
1° Eadem iura ac officia habet, ac Vicarius Capitularis; sed, sede plena, potest dioecesim visitare ad tramitem iuris; nec tenetur obligatione applicandae Missae pro populo, quae Episcopum gravat;
2° Ad honorifica privilegia quod attinet, valeat praescriptum can. 308; sed Episcopo qui, ad aliam sedem translatus, prioris retinet administrationem, in hac quoque omnia Episcoporum residentialium honorifica privilegia competunt.
§ 1. If an Apostolic Administrator is placed over a diocese with the see full, the jurisdiction of the Bishop and of his Vicar General is suspended.
§ 2. Although the Apostolic Administrator is not subject to the authority of the Bishop, nevertheless he must not involve himself in causes which concern the Bishop himself, nor institute a trial or process against his Vicar General or take action concerning acts of past administration.
§ 1. Si Administrator Apostolicus dioecesi, sede plena, praeficiatur, iurisdictio Episcopi eiusque Vicarii Generalis suspenditur.
§ 2. Quanquam autem Administrator Apostolicus Episcopi auctoritati non subest, non debet tamen se immiscere causis Episcopum ipsum spectantibus, neque in Vicarium eius Generalem iudicium seu processum instruere aut animadvertere ob acta praeteritae administrationis.
If the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Administrator has been impeded, or if the same Administrator has failed, the Apostolic See is to be warned immediately; and meanwhile, if the diocese is vacant or the Bishop is not self-governing, the prescriptions of can. 429 and following have force; otherwise the Bishop governs the diocese, unless the Apostolic See has provided something else.
Si impedita fuerit iurisdictio Administratoris Apostolici aut si idem Administrator defecerit, Sedes Apostolica statim moneatur; et interim, si dioecesis vacet aut Episcopus non sit sui compos, valent praescripta can. 429 seqq.; secus Episcopus dioecesim regit, nisi Sedes Apostolica aliud praestituerit.
§ 1. The jurisdiction of an Apostolic Administrator does not cease by the death of the Roman Pontiff or of the Bishop.
§ 2. It ceases, however, when the Bishop of the vacant diocese has legitimately taken possession according to the norm of can. 334, Sec. 3.
§ 1. Administratoris Apostolici iurisdictio Romani Pontificis aut Episcopi obitu non cessat.
§ 2. Cessat vero cum Episcopus dioecesis vacantis possessionem legitime ceperit ad normam can. 334, § 3.