BENEDICT XVI

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION ANGLICANORUM COETIBUS

PROVIDING FOR PERSONAL ORDINARIATES FOR ANGLICANS
ENTERING INTO FULL COMMUNION
WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

In recent times the Hol S!irit h"s mo#e$ %ro&!s o' An%lic"ns to !etition re!e"te$l
"n$ insistentl to (e recei#e$ into '&ll C"tholic comm&nion in$i#i$&"ll "s )ell "s
cor!or"tel* The A!ostolic See h"s res!on$e$ '"#or"(l to s&ch !etitions* In$ee$+ the
s&ccessor o' Peter+ m"n$"te$ ( the Lor$ ,es&s to %&"r"ntee the &nit o' the e!isco!"te
"n$ to !resi$e o#er "n$ s"'e%&"r$ the &ni#ers"l comm&nion o' "ll the Ch&rches+ co&l$
not '"il to m"-e "#"il"(le the me"ns necess"r to (rin% this hol $esire to re"li."tion*
The Ch&rch+ " !eo!le %"there$ into the &nit o' the F"ther+ the Son "n$ the Hol S!irit+
)"s instit&te$ ( o&r Lor$ ,es&s Christ+ "s /" s"cr"ment 0 " si%n "n$ instr&ment+ th"t is+
o' comm&nion )ith Go$ "n$ o' &nit "mon% "ll !eo!le*1 E#er $i#ision "mon% the
("!ti.e$ in ,es&s Christ )o&n$s th"t )hich the Ch&rch is "n$ th"t 'or )hich the Ch&rch
e2ists3 in '"ct+ /s&ch $i#ision o!enl contr"$icts the )ill o' Christ+ sc"n$"li.es the
)orl$+ "n$ $"m"%es th"t most hol c"&se+ the !re"chin% the Gos!el to e#er cre"t&re*1
Precisel 'or this re"son+ (e'ore she$$in% his (loo$ 'or the s"l#"tion o' the )orl$+ the
Lor$ ,es&s !r"e$ to the F"ther 'or the &nit o' his $isci!les*
It is the Hol S!irit+ the !rinci!le o' &nit+ )hich est"(lishes the Ch&rch "s "
comm&nion* He is the !rinci!le o' the &nit o' the '"ith'&l in the te"chin% o' the
A!ostles+ in the (re"-in% o' the (re"$ "n$ in !r"er* The Ch&rch+ ho)e#er+ "n"lo%o&s to
the mster o' the Inc"rn"te Wor$+ is not onl "n in#isi(le s!irit&"l comm&nion+ (&t is
"lso #isi(le3 in '"ct+ /the societ str&ct&re$ )ith hier"rchic"l or%"ns "n$ the Mstic"l
4o$ o' Christ+ the #isi(le societ "n$ the s!irit&"l comm&nit+ the e"rthl Ch&rch "n$
the Ch&rch en$o)e$ )ith he"#enl riches+ "re not to (e tho&%ht o' "s t)o re"lities* On
the contr"r+ the 'orm one com!le2 re"lit 'orme$ 'rom " t)o5'ol$ element+ h&m"n
"n$ $i#ine*1 The comm&nion o' the ("!ti.e$ in the te"chin% o' the A!ostles "n$ in the
(re"-in% o' the e&ch"ristic (re"$ is #isi(l m"ni'este$ in the (on$s o' the !ro'ession o'
the '"ith in its entiret+ o' the cele(r"tion o' "ll o' the s"cr"ments instit&te$ ( Christ+
"n$ o' the %o#ern"nce o' the Colle%e o' 4isho!s &nite$ )ith its he"$+ the Rom"n
Ponti''*
This sin%le Ch&rch o' Christ+ )hich )e !ro'ess in the Cree$ "s one+ hol+ c"tholic "n$
"!ostolic /s&(sists in the C"tholic Ch&rch+ )hich is %o#erne$ ( the s&ccessor o' Peter
"n$ ( the 4isho!s in comm&nion )ith him* Ne#ertheless+ m"n elements o'
s"ncti'ic"tion "n$ o' tr&th "re 'o&n$ o&tsi$e her #isi(le con'ines* Since these "re %i'ts
!ro!erl (elon%in% to the Ch&rch o' Christ+ the "re 'orces im!ellin% to)"r$s C"tholic
&nit*1
In the li%ht o' these ecclesiolo%ic"l !rinci!les+ this A!ostolic Constit&tion !ro#i$es the
%ener"l norm"ti#e str&ct&re 'or re%&l"tin% the instit&tion "n$ li'e o' Person"l
Or$in"ri"tes 'or those An%lic"n '"ith'&l )ho $esire to enter into the '&ll comm&nion o'
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the C"tholic Ch&rch in " cor!or"te m"nner* This Constit&tion is com!lete$ (
Com!lement"r Norms iss&e$ ( the A!ostolic See*
I* 67 Person"l Or$in"ri"tes 'or An%lic"ns enterin% into '&ll comm&nion )ith the
C"tholic Ch&rch "re erecte$ ( the Con%re%"tion 'or the Doctrine o' the F"ith )ithin the
con'ines o' the territori"l (o&n$"ries o' " !"rtic&l"r Con'erence o' 4isho!s in
cons&lt"tion )ith th"t s"me Con'erence*
68 Within the territor o' " !"rtic&l"r Con'erence o' 4isho!s+ one or more Or$in"ri"tes
m" (e erecte$ "s nee$e$*
69 E"ch Or$in"ri"te !ossesses !&(lic :&ri$ic !erson"lit ( the l") itsel' ;i!so i&re<3 it
is :&ri$ic"ll com!"r"(le to " $iocese*
6= The Or$in"ri"te is com!ose$ o' l" '"ith'&l+ clerics "n$ mem(ers o' Instit&tes o'
Consecr"te$ Li'e "n$ Societies o' A!ostolic Li'e+ ori%in"ll (elon%in% to the An%lic"n
Comm&nion "n$ no) in '&ll comm&nion )ith the C"tholic Ch&rch+ or those )ho
recei#e the S"cr"ments o' Initi"tion )ithin the :&ris$iction o' the Or$in"ri"te*
6> The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the "&thorit"ti#e e2!ression o' the C"tholic
'"ith !ro'esse$ ( mem(ers o' the Or$in"ri"te*
II* The Person"l Or$in"ri"te is %o#erne$ "ccor$in% to the norms o' &ni#ers"l l") "n$ the
!resent A!ostolic Constit&tion "n$ is s&(:ect to the Con%re%"tion 'or the Doctrine o' the
F"ith+ "n$ the other Dic"steries o' the Rom"n C&ri" in "ccor$"nce )ith their
com!etencies* It is "lso %o#erne$ ( the Com!lement"r Norms "s )ell "s "n other
s!eci'ic Norms %i#en 'or e"ch Or$in"ri"te*
III* Witho&t e2cl&$in% lit&r%ic"l cele(r"tions "ccor$in% to the Rom"n Rite+ the
Or$in"ri"te h"s the '"c&lt to cele(r"te the Hol E&ch"rist "n$ the other S"cr"ments+ the
Lit&r% o' the Ho&rs "n$ other lit&r%ic"l cele(r"tions "ccor$in% to the lit&r%ic"l (oo-s
!ro!er to the An%lic"n tr"$ition+ )hich h"#e (een "!!ro#e$ ( the Hol See+ so "s to
m"int"in the lit&r%ic"l+ s!irit&"l "n$ !"stor"l tr"$itions o' the An%lic"n Comm&nion
)ithin the C"tholic Ch&rch+ "s " !recio&s %i't no&rishin% the '"ith o' the mem(ers o' the
Or$in"ri"te "n$ "s " tre"s&re to (e sh"re$*
IV* IV* A Person"l Or$in"ri"te is entr&ste$ to the !"stor"l c"re o' "n Or$in"r "!!ointe$
( the Rom"n Ponti''*
V* V* The !o)er ;potestas< o' the Or$in"r is?
"* ordinary? connecte$ ( the l") itsel' to the o''ice entr&ste$ to him ( the Rom"n
Ponti''+ 'or (oth the intern"l 'or&m "n$ e2tern"l 'or&m3
(* vicarious? e2ercise$ in the n"me o' the Rom"n Ponti''3
c* !erson"l? e2ercise$ o#er "ll )ho (elon% to the Or$in"ri"te3
This !o)er is to be exercised jointly )ith th"t o' the loc"l Dioces"n 4isho!+ in those
c"ses !ro#i$e$ 'or in the Com!lement"r Norms*
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VI* 6 7* Those )ho ministere$ "s An%lic"n $e"cons+ !riests+ or (isho!s+ "n$ )ho '&l'ill
the re@&isites est"(lishe$ ( c"non l") "n$ "re not im!e$e$ ( irre%&l"rities or other
im!e$iments m" (e "cce!te$ ( the Or$in"r "s c"n$i$"tes 'or Hol Or$ers in the
C"tholic Ch&rch* In the c"se o' m"rrie$ ministers+ the norms est"(lishe$ in the
Encclic"l Letter o' Po!e P"&l VI Sacerdotalis coelibatus+ n* =8 "n$ in the St"tement In
June "re to (e o(ser#e$* Unm"rrie$ ministers m&st s&(mit to the norm o' cleric"l
celi("c o' CIC c"n* 8AA+ 67*
6 8* The Or$in"r+ in '&ll o(ser#"nce o' the $isci!line o' celi("te cler% in the L"tin
Ch&rch+ "s " r&le ;pro regula< )ill "$mit onl celi("te men to the or$er o' !res(ter* He
m" "lso !etition the Rom"n Ponti''+ "s " $ero%"tion 'rom c"n* 8AA+ 67+ 'or the
"$mission o' m"rrie$ men to the or$er o' !res(ter on " c"se ( c"se ("sis+ "ccor$in% to
o(:ecti#e criteri" "!!ro#e$ ( the Hol See*
6 9* Inc"r$in"tion o' clerics )ill (e re%&l"te$ "ccor$in% to the norms o' c"non l")*
6 =* Priests inc"r$in"te$ into "n Or$in"ri"te+ )ho constit&te the !res(ter"te o' the
Or$in"ri"te+ "re "lso to c&lti#"te (on$s o' &nit )ith the !res(ter"te o' the Diocese in
)hich the e2ercise their ministr* The sho&l$ !romote common !"stor"l "n$
ch"rit"(le initi"ti#es "n$ "cti#ities+ )hich c"n (e the o(:ect o' "%reements (et)een the
Or$in"r "n$ the loc"l Dioces"n 4isho!*
6 >* C"n$i$"tes 'or Hol Or$ers in "n Or$in"ri"te sho&l$ (e !re!"re$ "lon%si$e other
semin"ri"ns+ es!eci"ll in the "re"s o' $octrin"l "n$ !"stor"l 'orm"tion* In or$er to
"$$ress the !"rtic&l"r nee$s o' semin"ri"ns o' the Or$in"ri"te "n$ 'orm"tion in An%lic"n
!"trimon+ the Or$in"r m" "lso est"(lish semin"r !ro%r"ms or ho&ses o' 'orm"tion
)hich )o&l$ rel"te to e2istin% C"tholic '"c&lties o' theolo%*
VII* The Or$in"r+ )ith the "!!ro#"l o' the Hol See+ c"n erect ne) Instit&tes o'
Consecr"te$ Li'e "n$ Societies o' A!ostolic Li'e+ )ith the ri%ht to c"ll their mem(ers to
Hol Or$ers+ "ccor$in% to the norms o' c"non l")* Instit&tes o' Consecr"te$ Li'e
ori%in"tin% in the An%lic"n Comm&nion "n$ enterin% into '&ll comm&nion )ith the
C"tholic Ch&rch m" "lso (e !l"ce$ &n$er his :&ris$iction ( m&t&"l consent*
VIII* 6 7* The Or$in"r+ "ccor$in% to the norm o' l")+ "'ter h"#in% he"r$ the o!inion o'
the Dioces"n 4isho! o' the !l"ce+ m" erect+ )ith the consent o' the Hol See+ !erson"l
!"rishes 'or the '"ith'&l )ho (elon% to the Or$in"ri"te*
6 8* P"stors o' the Or$in"ri"te en:o "ll the ri%hts "n$ "re hel$ to "ll the o(li%"tions
est"(lishe$ in the Co$e o' C"non L") "n$+ in c"ses est"(lishe$ ( the Com!lement"r
Norms+ s&ch ri%hts "n$ o(li%"tions "re to (e e2ercise$ in m&t&"l !"stor"l "ssist"nce
to%ether )ith the !"stors o' the loc"l Diocese )here the !erson"l !"rish o' the
Or$in"ri"te h"s (een est"(lishe$*
IB* 4oth the l" '"ith'&l "s )ell "s mem(ers o' Instit&tes o' Consecr"te$ Li'e "n$
Societies o' A!ostolic Li'e+ ori%in"ll !"rt o' the An%lic"n Comm&nion+ )ho )ish to
enter the Person"l Or$in"ri"te+ m&st m"ni'est this $esire in )ritin%*
B* 6 7* The Or$in"r is "i$e$ in his %o#ern"nce ( " Go#ernin% Co&ncil )ith its o)n
st"t&tes "!!ro#e$ ( the Or$in"r "n$ con'irme$ ( the Hol See*
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6 8* The Go#ernin% Co&ncil+ !resi$e$ o#er ( the Or$in"r+ is com!ose$ o' "t le"st si2
!riests* It e2ercises the '&nctions s!eci'ie$ in the Co$e o' C"non L") 'or the Pres(ter"l
Co&ncil "n$ the Colle%e o' Cons&ltors+ "s )ell "s those "re"s s!eci'ie$ in the
Com!lement"r Norms*
6 9* The Or$in"r is to est"(lish " Fin"nce Co&ncil "ccor$in% to the norms est"(lishe$
( the Co$e o' C"non L") )hich )ill e2ercise the $&ties s!eci'ie$ therein*
6 =* In or$er to !ro#i$e 'or the cons&lt"tion o' the '"ith'&l+ " P"stor"l Co&ncil is to (e
constit&te$ in the Or$in"ri"te*
BI* E#er 'i#e e"rs the Or$in"r is re@&ire$ to come to Rome 'or "n ad limina
Apostolorum #isit "n$ !resent to the Rom"n Ponti''+ thro&%h the Con%re%"tion 'or the
Doctrine o' the F"ith "n$ in cons&lt"tion )ith the Con%re%"tion 'or 4isho!s "n$ the
Con%re%"tion 'or the E#"n%eli."tion o' Peo!les+ " re!ort on the st"t&s o' the
Or$in"ri"te*
BII* For :&$ici"l c"ses+ the com!etent tri(&n"l is th"t o' the Diocese in )hich one o' the
!"rties is $omicile$+ &nless the Or$in"ri"te h"s constit&te$ its o)n tri(&n"l+ in )hich
c"se the tri(&n"l o' secon$ inst"nce is the one $esi%n"te$ ( the Or$in"ri"te "n$
"!!ro#e$ ( the Hol See*
BIII* The Decree est"(lishin% "n Or$in"ri"te )ill $etermine the loc"tion o' the See "n$+
i' "!!ro!ri"te+ the !rinci!"l ch&rch*
We $esire th"t o&r $is!ositions "n$ norms (e #"li$ "n$ e''ecti#e no) "n$ in the '&t&re+
not)ithst"n$in%+ sho&l$ it (e necess"r+ the A!ostolic Constit&tions "n$ or$in"nces
iss&e$ ( o&r !re$ecessors+ or "n other !rescri!tions+ e#en those re@&irin% s!eci"l
mention or $ero%"tion*

Given in Rome, at St !eter"s, on #ovember $, %&&', the (emorial of St Charles
)orromeo*
C7D C'* Secon$ V"tic"n Co&ncil+ Do%m"tic Constit&tion *umen gentium+ 893
Con%re%"tion 'or the Doctrine o' the F"ith+ Letter Communionis notio+ 783 79*
C'* Do%m"tic Constit&tion *umen gentium+ =3 Decree +nitatis redintegratio+ 8*
Do%m"tic Constit&tion *umen gentium+ 7*
Decree +nitatis redintegratio+ 7*
C'* ,n 7A?8E5873 Decree +nitatis redintegratio+ 8*
C'* Do%m"tic Constit&tion *umen gentium+ 79*
C'* ibid3 Acts 8?=8*
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C'* Do%m"tic Constit&tion *umen gentium+ F3 Letter Communionis notio+ =*
Do%m"tic Constit&tion *umen gentium+ F*
C'* CIC+ c"n* 8E>3 Do%m"tic Constit&tion *umen gentium+ 793 7=3 873 883 Decree
+nitatis redintegratio+ 83 93 =3 7>3 8E3 Decree Christus ,ominus+ =3 Decree Ad gentes+
88*
Do%m"tic Constit&tion *umen gentium+ F*
C'* ,ohn P"&l II+ A!* Const* Spirituali militium curae+ 87 A!ril 7GFH+ I 6 7*
C'* CIC+ c"nn* 7E8H57E98*
C'* CIC+ c"nn* 7E=E57E=G*
C'* AAS >G ;7GHA< HA=*
C'* Con%re%"tion 'or the Doctrine o' the F"ith+ Statement of - April -'.-+ in
/nchiridion 0aticanum A+ 7879*
C'* CIC+ c"nn* =G>5>E8*
C'* CIC+ c"nn* =G85=G=*
C'* CIC+ c"n* >77*
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