Chapter IX: On the Faculty of Reading and Retaining Prohibited Books

23. Books proscribed either by special decrees or by these general decrees can be read and retained only by those who have obtained opportune faculties from the Apostolic See, or from those to whom it has delegated its place.

24. The Roman Pontiffs placed the Sacred Congregation of the Index over conceding licenses of reading and retaining any prohibited books whatsoever. Nevertheless, the Supreme Congregation of the Holy Office, and also the Sacred Congregation de Propaganda Fide for regions subject to its governance, enjoy the same power. For the City alone, this faculty also belongs to the Master of the Sacred Apostolic Palace.

25. Bishops and other prelates possessing quasi-episcopal jurisdiction may be able to concede license for singular books, and only in urgent cases. But if the same have obtained from the Apostolic See a general faculty, so that they may be able to impart to the faithful license of reading and retaining proscribed books, let them concede it only with selection and from a just and reasonable cause.

26. All who have obtained the apostolic faculty of reading and retaining prohibited books are not therefore able to read and retain any books whatsoever, or newspapers proscribed by the Ordinaries of places, unless in the apostolic indult there has been made for them express power of reading and retaining books condemned by any persons whatsoever. Let those who have obtained license of reading prohibited books also remember that they are held by grave precept to guard books of this kind in such a way that they do not come to the hands of others.