Explaining the Vatican’s process for naming a new bishop

    It was a joyous, prayerful experience installing Bishop Fabre last week as the fourth bishop of Houma-Thibodaux. We dearly will miss him and his ministry in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
    A number of people have asked me what the process is for the Holy Father to appoint a new auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Given the work of those involved in this process of discernment, the appointment of an auxiliary could take up to a year.
    The simplest way for me to explain the process is to publish the guidelines that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has posted on its website (www.usccb.org). The information is called “How Bishops are Appointed.”
Introduction
    The ultimate decision in appointing bishops rests with the pope, and he is free to select anyone he chooses. But how does he know whom to select?
    The process for selecting candidates for the episcopacy normally begins at the diocesan level and works its way through a series of consultations until it reaches Rome. It is a process bound by strict confidentiality and involves a number of important players – the most influential being the apostolic nuncio, the Congregation for Bishops and the pope. It can be a time-consuming process, often taking eight months or more to complete. While there are distinctions between the first appointment of a priest as a bishop and a bishop’s later transfer to another diocese or his promotion to archbishop, the basic outlines of the process remain the same.
Key Terms:
    Apostolic nuncio: The pope’s representative to both the government and to the hierarchy of a given nation; a key person in deciding what names are recommended to the Congregation for Bishops for possible episcopal appointment.
    Auxiliary Bishop: A bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop. Whether in a diocese or archdiocese, his title is bishop.
    Coadjutor: A bishop appointed to a Catholic diocese or archdiocese to assist the diocesan bishop. Unlike an auxiliary bishop, he has the right of succession, meaning that he automatically becomes the new bishop when the diocesan bishop retires or dies. By canon law, he is also vicar general of the diocese. If the diocese is an archdiocese, he is called coadjutor archbishop instead of coadjutor bishop. In recent years, a growing number of U.S. bishops in larger dioceses or archdioceses have requested and received a coadjutor in their final year or two before their retirement, in order to familiarize their successor with the workings of the (arch)diocese before he has to take over the reins. This minimizes the learning curve of a new bishop and eliminates completely the possibility of the diocese being vacant following the old bishop’s retirement.
    Congregation for Bishops: A department of the Roman Curia, headed by a cardinal. The head of the congregation, called the “prefect,” is presently Cardinal Marc Ouellet, a Canadian. Among the congregation’s responsibilities are moderating all aspects of episcopal appointments; assisting bishops in the correct exercise of their pastoral functions; handling ad limina visits (regular visits to Rome by bishops every five years); and establishing episcopal conferences and reviewing their decrees as required by canon law. Its membership consists of approximately 35 cardinals and archbishops from around the world. U.S. cardinals on the congregation are Justin Rigali, William Levada, Bernard Law, Raymond Burke and James Stafford.
    Diocesan Bishop: Pastoral and legal head and representative of a diocese.
    Province: A territory comprising one archdiocese, called the metropolitan see, and one or more dioceses, called suffragan sees. The Code of Canon Law spells out certain limited obligations and authority that the metropolitan archbishop has with respect to the dioceses within his province. The United States is divided into 33 ecclesiastical provinces.
    Terna: A list of three candidates for a vacant office, including the office of bishop.
Stage 1:
Bishops’ Recommendations
    Every bishop may submit to the archbishop of his province the names of priests he thinks would make good bishops. Prior to the regular province meeting (usually annually), the archbishop distributes to all the bishops of the province the names and curricula vitae of priests which have been submitted to him. Following a discussion among the bishops at the province meeting, a vote is taken on which names to recommend. The number of names on this provincial list may vary. The vote tally, together with the minutes of the meeting, is then forwarded by the archbishop to the apostolic nuncio in Washington.
    The list is also submitted to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Stage 2:
The Apostolic Nuncio
    By overseeing the final list of names forwarded to Rome, the apostolic nuncio plays a decisive role in the selection process. He not only gathers facts and information about potential candidates but also interprets that information for the congregation. Great weight is given to the nuncio’s recommendations, but it is important to remember that his “gatekeeper” role, however, does not mean that his recommendations are always followed.
For Diocesan Bishops
    After receiving the list of candidates forwarded by a province, the apostolic nuncio conducts his own investigation into the suitability of the candidates.
    A report is requested from the current bishop or the administrator of a diocese on the conditions and needs of the diocese. If the appointment is a replacement for a diocesan bishop or archbishop about to retire, consideration will be given to the incumbent’s recommendations. Broad consultation within the diocese is encouraged with regard to the needs of the diocese, but not the names of candidates.
    The report is to include the names of individuals in the diocese with whom the nuncio might consult and how to contact them.
    Previous bishops of the diocese are consulted.
    Bishops of the province are consulted.
    The president and vice president of the USCCB are consulted.
    If the vacancy to be filled is an archdiocese, other archbishops in the United States may be consulted.
    At this point, the nuncio narrows his list, and a questionnaire is sent to 20 or 30 people who know each of the candidates for their input.
    All material is collected and reviewed by the nuncio, and a report (approximately 20 pages) is prepared. Three candidates are listed alphabetically – the terna – with the nuncio’s preference noted. All materials are then forwarded to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome.
For Auxiliary Bishops
    A diocesan bishop must justify to the apostolic nuncio his need for an auxiliary bishop. This is easier if he is requesting a replacement for a retired or deceased auxiliary.
    The diocesan bishop prepares the terna, or list of three candidates, for his requested auxiliary and forwards it to the apostolic nuncio.
    The nuncio then conducts his own investigation of the priests on the diocesan bishop’s terna, sending the names to Rome with a report and his own recommendations.
    On average, this part of the process may take two to six months.
Stage 3:
Congregation for Bishops
    Once all the documentation from the nuncio is complete and in order, and the prefect approves, the process moves forward. If the appointment involves a bishop who is being promoted or transferred, the matter may be handled by the prefect and the staff. If, however, the appointment is of a priest to the episcopacy, the full congregation is ordinarily involved.
    A cardinal relator is chosen to summarize the documentation and make a report to the full congregation, which generally meets twice a month. After hearing the cardinal relator’s report, the congregation discusses the appointment and then votes. The congregation may follow the recommendation of the nuncio, chose another of the candidates on the terna, or even ask that another terna be prepared.
Stage 4:
The Pope Decides
    At a private audience with the pope, usually on a Saturday, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops presents the recommendations of the congregation to the Holy Father. A few days later, the pope informs the congregation of his decision. The congregation then notifies the nuncio, who in turn contacts the candidate and asks if he will accept. If the answer is “yes,” the Vatican is notified and a date is set for the announcement.
    It often takes six to eight months – and sometimes longer – from the time a diocese becomes vacant until a new bishop is appointed.