Major Archbishop and Election in the Syro-Malabar Church

Both CCEO and the Particular law of the Syro-malabar Church are quoted in the text.

1. What is the Procedure for Electing a New Archbishop

Major Archiepiscopal see has become vacant on death of the Major Archbishop. A Major Archbishop is canonically elected in the synod of bishops of the Major Archiepiscopal church (CCEO c. 63).

2. Once the Major Archbishop is elected (SMC Statutes Article 6).

6.1.1. The Major Archbishop of the SMMAC is the Metropolitan of the See of Ernakulam‑Angamaly and he presides over the entire sui iuris SMMAC [of Ernakulam‑Angamaly] as Father and Head (CCEO cc. 55; 56; 151).

6.1.2. He will have all the prerogatives, rights and obligations deter­mined by the common law (CCEO cc. 78‑101, 151‑154) and the particular law of the SMMAC.

3. The Election of the Major Archbishop

6.2.1. The Major Archbishop is elected by the Synod of Bishops of the SMMAC according to the norms of cc. 63‑74; 110 § 3; 153; 947‑957.

6.2.2. The qualities mentioned in c. 180 are required for the one to be a Major Archbishop (CCEO c. 64).

4. Qualities of the Person to be Elected

C. 180 - For a person to be considered suitable for the episcopate, he must:
1° be outstanding in solid faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls and prudence;
2° is held in good esteem;

3° not be bound by marriage bond;

4° be at least thirty-five years old;

5° be ordained presbyter for at least five years;

6° hold a doctorate or licentiate in some sacred science or at least be well versed in it.

5. Convocation of the Election Synod

6.2.3. § 1. To conduct the election of the Major Archbishop, the Synod is convoked by the Administrator of the SMMAC within two months from the vacancy of the See, at the Major Archiepiscopal residence. Any other place may be designated by the administrator with the consent of the Permanent Synod (CCEO cc. 65 §§ 1 & 2; 128, 3°).

6.2.3. § 2. During a vacancy of the Major Archiepiscopal see, the adminis­trator of the Major Archiepiscopal Church is the senior bishop according to episcopal ordination among the bishops of the Major Archiepiscopal curia or, if there are not any, among the bishops who are members of the permanent synod (CCEO c. 127).

6. Electors of the Major Archbishop

6.2.4 § 1. In the election of the Major Archbishop, all and only the members of the Synod enjoy active voice (CCEO c. 66 §1).

6.2.5 § 1.“All bishops lawfully convoked are bound by grave ob­ligation to be present at the election”( CCEO c. 68 §1).

§ 2. If a certain bishop considers himself detained by a just impediment he is to submit his reasons in writing to the Synod. The bishops who are present at the designated place in the first session of the Synod are to decide upon the legitimacy of the impediment (CCEO c. 68 §2).

6.2.6. “Once the convocation has taken place according to the can­ons, if two third of the bishops who are obliged to be present at the Synod, excluding those who are detained by a legitimate impediment, are present at the designated location, the Synod is to be declared canonical and can proceed with the election” (CCEO c. 69). (Our Church has 46 eligible elector bishops. For serious reasons three or four may have to be excluded with legitimate impediment. If the number is going to be 42, then for two third majority, one person has to get 28 votes and if in the end with absolute majority, 22 votes).

7. During the Election in the Synodal Hall?

6.2.4 § 2. “It is forbidden for anyone other than the members of the Synod to be present in the synodal hall during the election of the Major Archbishop, except those clerics who are admitted as tellers or notary of the Synod ac­cording to the norms of canon 71 § 1” (c. 66 § 2).

§ 3. It is not allowed for anyone either before or during the Synod to interfere in the election of the Major Archbishop (CCEO c. 66 §3).

8. Election Process

6.2.7. The Synod in its first session shall elect the one who is to preside over the synod for the election of the Major Arch­bishop; until then the presidency is reserved to the adminis­trator of the SMMAC (CCEO c. 70).

6.2.8. The presiding Bishop with the consent of the permanent synod can allow a notary, and if needed two other clerics as tellers to help the members in the proceedings with due regard for cc. 66 §§2, 3, and 71.

6.2.9. All those who are present at the Synod are bound by serious obligation of observing secrecy concerning those matters that directly or indirectly concern the balloting (CCEO c. 71 § 2).

6.2.10 § 1. During the ballot the one who obtains two‑third of the votes is elected Major Archbishop, if after five ballots no one gets the required number of votes, absolute majority would be sufficient in the sixth and seventh ballots; but if no one gets absolute majority even in the seventh ballot according to c. 183 §§ 3,4, the votes are cast in the eighth ballot for only those two candidates who have secured the highest number of votes in the seventh ballot (CCEO c. 72 §1).

§ 2. If because of a tied vote, it is not established who the candidates are for the new ballot or who has been elected, the tie is decided in favour of him who is sen­ior according to episcopal ordination if both are bish­ops, and according to the presbyteral ordination if ei­ther of them is a priest. If no one precedes the other in Episcopal or presbyteral ordination as referred, the one who is senior in age (CCEO c. 193 §4).

§3. “If the election is not carried out within fifteen days from the opening of the Synod, the matter devolves upon the Roman Pontiff." (CCEO c. 72 §2)

9. After the Election

6.2.11 § 1. If the one who is elected is at least a legitimately proclaimed bishop, the presiding officer, or if the presiding officer is elected, the senior bishop according to the episcopal ordination, in the name of the entire Synod, is immediately to communicate the election to the one who is elected according to the formula and manner decided by the Synod.

§2. However, if the one who is elected is not yet a lawfully proclaimed bishop, secrecy is to be observed by every­one who is in any way knows the result of the election even towards the one elected. Meanwhile the Synod is suspended, and the intimation is made after executing all canonical requirements for the episcopal proclama­tion as per cc. 184 or 185 (CCEO c. 73).

§ 3. After this, the result of the election of the Major Arch­bishop is communicated secretly to him who is elected.

6.2.12. Within two available days after the intimation the one who is elected must inform in writing whether he accepts the election. If he does not accept or does not respond within two days, he loses all the rights acquired by the election (cc. 74 & 957).

6.2.13. After the acceptance by the one who is elected the Synod must inform the Roman Pontiff, through a Synodal letter, of the canonical conduct of the election; the one who is elected must in a letter signed in his own hand, request the confirmation of his election from the Roman Pontiff (CCEO c. 153 §2).

6.2.14. After having obtained the confirmation, the one who is elected must, in the presence of the Synod, make a profession of faith and promise to discharge faithfully his office; after that his proclamation and enthronement are to be car­ried out. In case, the one who is elected is not yet an ordained bishop, the enthronement cannot validly be done before he receives the episcopal ordination. If, however, the confirmation is denied, a new election is to be con­ducted within the time established by the Roman Pontiff (CCEO c. 153 §§3 & 4).

10. The bishops who all can vote:

All and only ordained bishops of the Syro-Malabar dioceses can vote for the major archbishop. Hence the Bishops of all 29 Syro-Malabar dioceses 18 inside the territorial boundaries, 11 outside the territorial foundries including Chicago have voting power, including the curia bishop, emeritus bishops and auxiliary bishops.

11. The Syro-Malabar Eparchies and Number of Bishops

Total Sees .......................................................: 29

Metropolitan Sees .........................................: 05

Eparchial Sees ...............................................: 24

Inside the proper territory...........................: 18

Outside the proper territory........................: 11(1 Eparchy outside India)

Inside the proper territory: Badravathi, Belthangady, Changanacherry, Ernakulam-Angamaly, Idukki, Irinjalakuda, Kanjirapally, Kothamangalam, Kottyam, Mananthavady, Mandya, Palai, Palakkad, Ramanadhapuram, Tellicherry, Thamarassery, Thuckalay and Trichur.

Outside the proper territory:

Adilabad, Bijnor, Chanda, Gorakhpur, Jagdalpur, Kalyan, Rajkot, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain and St. Thomas Diocese in Chicago.

The Church has 46 bishops: Archbishops: 4, Diocesan Bishops: 24, Curial Bishop: 1, Auxiliaries: 4, Retired: 13 (3 Archbishops +10 Bishops)

12. Can anyone be elected including the Emeritus bishops?

It is presumed that the Major Archbishop should be a priest of Syro-Malabar origin. Hence the new major archbishop can be anyone who is working any part of the world, including the priests or bishops from Syro-Malabar Church who are working in the Latin dioceses or nuncios who are in the diplomatic service of the Catholic Church. As the retirement age is not applicable in the case of a Major Archbishop, the code does not prohibit even the emeritus bishops getting elected.

Conclusions:

Guidance of the Holy Spirit and Strict observance of the Canon Law should be the guiding principles of the election. All the Syro-Malabarians have a great duty to pray so that the Major Archbishop is elected by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit.