Pope Francis Sets Voting Age Limit for Bishops
By Church News
On Monday Pope Francis introduced an age limit of 80 years for retired bishops and patriarchs in the Eastern Catholic Churches.
In an Apostolic Letter issued on April 17 in the form of a ‘Motu Proprio’, Pope Francis amends the Canon Law of the Oriental Churches by providing that the bishops emeritus who have reached the age limit of 80 will no longer be able to vote in the Episcopal Synods of which they are members, though the rule does not apply to those who are already in office.
The changes exclude retired bishops and patriarchs over the age of 80 from participating in deliberative voting.
In his introduction, Pope Francis said that “for some time now” the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches has been hearing from patriarchs, major archbishops, and bishops in the Eastern Churches about difficulties regarding the number of retired bishops who participate in their meetings “with an active voice.”
He said these leaders had asked the pope to change the norms to exclude retired bishops over the age limit of 80 from having a deliberative vote.
According to the changes, those leaders who are over 80 years of age but active in office may still participate in the voting.
There are 23 Eastern Catholic Churches that are self-governing and in full communion with Rome.