Title — Liber Sextus
Title VIII: That Nothing Be Altered While Litigation Is Pending
Chapter I
If one of two persons elected who are litigating dies, renounces, or is excluded from prosecuting the cause, another election made while litigation with the remaining person is pending does not hold.
Boniface VIII. Desiring to meet the losses that churches sometimes suffer because of diverse elections, we decree that if, while some persons are litigating before the Apostolic See or elsewhere concerning elections about themselves celebrated in discord, it happens that one of them dies, renounces his right, or is excluded in any way from prosecuting it, another election is by no means to be proceeded to while litigation concerning the election of the surviving person elected is pending. Otherwise, an election attempted contrary to this does not subsist in force by the law itself.
UT LITE PENDENTE NIHIL INNOVETUR.
Si ex duobus litigantibus electis alter decedat, renunciet vel a prosecutione causae excludatur, si lite pendente cum reliquo fuerit alia electio facta, non terfet.
Bonifacius VIII.
Dispendiis, quae propter electiones diversas ecclesiae patiuntur interdum, occurrere cupientes, statuimus, ut, si, aliquibus apud sedem apostolicam vel alibi litigantibus super electionibus de se in discordia celebratis, aliquem ipsorum mori, vel suo iuri renunciare, aut a prosecutione ipsius contigerit quoquo modo excludi, ad electionem aliam, lite super electione superstitis electi pendente, nullatenus procedatur; alias attentata contra hoc electio ipso iure viribus non subsistat.
Chapter II
If a beneficed person against whom litigation concerning the benefice is conducted resigns or dies, and another is elected while litigation with the survivor is pending, the election is not valid. But if any persons whose interest is involved wish to be admitted to defend the litigation, they will be admitted in the state in which the cause stood. John Andrew.
The same. If persons against whom litigation is conducted concerning dignities, personatuses, or other ecclesiastical benefices that they possess resign while litigation is pending, or perhaps die, we decree, lest it happen that litigation is prolonged to the loss of churches because of new adversaries who are sometimes maliciously substituted against the petitioners, that dignities, personatuses, or benefices of this kind are by no means to be conferred upon others, nor is anyone to be elected or even presented to them, until the litigation against the survivors has been concluded. But if it is done otherwise, it is by that very fact to be held void. Indeed, if any persons whose interest is involved petition to be admitted to defend the litigation itself, we decree that they are to be admitted in the state in which they find it.
Si beneficiatus, contra quem super beneficio litigatur, cedit vel decedit, si alius, lite pendente cum superstite, fuerit electus, non valet electio. Si vero aliqui, quorum intersit, ad defensionem litis velint admitti, in eo statu, in quo erat causa, admittentur. Ioann. Andr.
Idem.
Si ii, contra quos super dignitatibus, personatibus vel aliis ecclesiasticis beneficiis, quae possident, litigatur, lite pendente cedant, vel forte decedant, ne propter novos adversarios, qui malitiose interdum petitoribus subrogantur, litigia in ecclesiarum dispendium prorogari contingat: statuimus, ut dignitates, personatus vel beneficia huiusmodi, donec contra superstites lis finita fuerit, aliis nullatenus conferantur, nec ad ea eligatur quispiam vel etiam praesentetur. Quodsi secus actum fuerit, eo ipso irritum habeatur. Sane si ad defensionem ipsius litis aliqui, quorum intererit, petierint se admitti, eos in illo statu, in quo ipsam invenerint, decernimus admittendos.