"This is how the process goes."
With the appointment of Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle to the Roman Curia, the Archdiocese of Manila becomes officially a “sede vacante”—a vacant see. This will set in motion the search for Manila’s 33rd archbishop.
The Catholic Church teaches that bishops are successors to the apostles, that is the Twelve chosen by Christ himself. With the martyrdom of the early apostles, their closest collaborators were appointed to replace them within the Christian community. The process of selecting bishops, however, has significantly evolved throughout the history of the Church. In the first millennium of Christianity, it was common for the clergy of the diocese to elect a bishop, a tradition that continues today with the election of the pope, whose primary role is to be the bishop of Rome. Even today, a number of European bishops are nominated by a group of senior clergy, called the chapter of canons.
In the Middle Ages, and with the emergence of a “prince bishop” with a more political than pastoral role, the State also claimed the right to select the bishops. In fact, several modern-day governments continue to be consulted on the selection of bishops either exercising the right to nominate or to exclude a particular candidate for the episcopal office.
In fact, throughout the first three hundred years of Christianity in the Philippines, the archbishop of Manila was appointed upon nomination by the King of Spain in accordance with the terms of the Patronato Real, according to which the Crown exercised protection, and therefore rights of patronage over the Church in the Philippines.
The modern process in the appointment of Catholic bishops follows the provisions of the current Code of Canon Law. Properly speaking, Catholic bishops are elected, although there is only one elector involved—that is the pope. But given the fact that today there are currently more than five thousand Catholic bishops, the process requires several levels of consultations within the Church.
The process of electing (or selecting bishops) usually begins at the diocesan level. Most dioceses belong to a metropolitan province, each headed by an archbishop. Every bishop is usually requested to submit the names of priests whom he believes is competent and capable of serving as bishop. At least once a year, without reference to any particular diocese, the archbishop meets with the bishops to discuss and draw up a short list of suitable candidates for bishop, which is then submitted to the pope’s personal representative in the country who plays a significantly decisive role in the process.
Whenever a vacancy occurs in a diocese, whether by the death or resignation of a bishop—or as in the recent case of Manila, the transfer of a bishop to another office—the papal nuncio carries out his own confidential investigation to assess the candidates for the vacant diocese, requesting inputs from the clergy and lay people in the diocese. Former bishops of the diocese, and other bishops serving in the metropolitan province, as well as the president of the bishops’ conference, are also consulted. Once the nuncio has compiled all the input and reviewed all information gathered, he prepares a report of three candidates—called the “terna”—indicating his preferences. The “terna” then is submitted to Rome for consideration for the Congregation for Bishops. Bishops to be appointed to mission areas, however, are assessed by the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples, the same office to which Cardinal Tagle has been recently appointed.
The process is slightly different for archdioceses—such as in case of Manila. Normally, bishops within the metropolitan province are usually first considered, before a wider search is carried. For example, Manila’s first Filipino bishop, Rufino Cardinal Santos, first served as auxiliary bishop of Manila while Cardinal Tagle was bishop of Imus, which is part of the ecclesiastical province of Manila. Incumbent archbishops are also usually considered. Jaime Cardinal Sin was archbishop of Jaro while Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales was archbishop of Lipa before they were appointed archbishop of Manila. In appointing archbishops, the position and prominence of the archdiocese within the country, as well as its unique needs and socio-economic realities, are also well taken into consideration.
After the Congregation for Bishops (or the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples for mission territories), its head, called the prefect, will approve the “terna” submitted by the nuncio and will ask that a summary of the information submitted be prepared. The same dossier is submitted to the members of the congregation, composed of cardinals and bishops from around the world. Members of the congregation meet at least twice a month to discuss the candidates and make a decision. The congregation can either affirm the recommendation made by the nuncio, choose another candidate named in the “terna” or ask that another “terna” be prepared and the process is repeated once again.
Once the congregation has made its decision, the prefect personally submits his report in a private audience with the pope, indicating the preferences of the congregation. The pope can then proceed with one of four likely decisions—he can confirm the decision of the congregation, choose another candidate on the “terna,” ask that another “terna” be prepared, or as in the case of several appointments made by Pope Francis—totally disregard the “terna” and choose his own candidate.
After the pope has made his choice, the congregation informs the nuncio, who immediately contacts the selected candidate, who is given the option to accept or refuse the appointment. If the candidate accepts the appointment, the nuncio arranges the date when the appointment will be announced. Within this two to four week period prior to the public announcement, the candidate must keep the matter strictly confidential.
The entire process of nominating and appointing a bishop usually takes six months to a year from the time a diocese becomes vacant. Although, it could happen that the process commences even before the retirement of the outgoing bishops.
Canon law requires that a bishop must be least 35 years old and a priest for at least five years. He should be “outstanding in strong faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence, and human virtues” and should be well versed in sacred Scripture, theology and canon law and, preferably, hold a doctorate in one of these fields. A bishop-elect must be ordained within three months following his nomination. This step in the process is omitted in the case of a candidate who is already a bishop at the time of his selection. Then, the process ends with the new bishop “taking possession” of his new diocese.
