Folia Theologica et Canonica 6. 28/20 (2017)

IUS CANONICUM - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, O.Praem., An overview on the international relations of the Holy See since the ‘Roman question' until 1967, correlated with the first codification (1917)

AN OVERVIEW ON THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE HOLY SEE... 1 1 1

tolic constitution’s prescription, Can. 263 distributed the Secretariat of State into three different sections.''4 The first section (Prima pars - n. 1 ) was presided by a secretary of Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs. This Congregation had right - described in Can. 25534 35 36 37 38 39 - to prepare the constitution or division of dioceses, to make personal suggestion to fill vacant dioceses, to form point of view for the Holy Father regarding questions which arose from the side of civil governments.'6 Regarding any form of agreements (including concordats), conventions, protocols, declarations, “modus vivendi” and exchange of notes with any nations, the Cardinal Secretary of this Congregation was responsible to analyse with the congregation members the proper state- and international law, in order to prepare a well deliberated report to the Holy Father to promote canonically and legally a possible document, acceptable by the Holy See.

The second section (Altera pars - n. 2) was led by a Substitute - who was the deputy of the Cardinal Secretary - and had responsibility to handle the so-called “ordinary cases” (negoria ordinaria), like the ecclesiastical and civil awards.'7

The third section (Tertia pars - n. 3) was under the direction of a Chancellor as the head of the Sacra Cancellano Brévium, dealing and expediting basically with those different “breves” which had arrived to it from the Congregations. This meant only an editing activity.'*

Obviously, if we talk about the international relations of the Holy See, must be mentioned the legates of the Roman Pontiff, particularly because they international recognition of this ancient service not only survived the termination of the Papal State, but because the Roman Pope has never lost his sovereign authority based on the international law, and it was clearly recognized by the Lateran Treaty in 1929."' Naturally the CIC (1917) had been composed more than a decade before it, but followed precisely the early legal and canonical

34 Vermeersch, A. - Creusen, I, Epitome iuris canonici cum commentariis ad scholas et ad usum privatum, I. Brugis-Bruxellis 19247 214.

35 CIC (1917) Can. 255 - Ad Congregationem pro negotiis ecclesiasticis extraordinariis spectat dioeceses constituere vel dividere et ad vacantes dioeceses idoneos viros promovere, quoties hisce de rebus cum civilibus Guberniis agendum est; insuper Congregatio in ea negotia incum- bit, quae eius examini subiiciuntur a Summo Pontifice per Cardinalem Secretarium Status, prae- sertim ex illis quae cum legibus civilibus coniunctum aliquid habent et ad pacta conventa cum variis Nationibus referuntur.

36 V ermeersch, A. - Creusen, J., Epitome iuris canonici, I. 214. Bánk. J., Egyházi jog, 61.

37 Vermeersch, A. - Creusen, J., Epitome iuris canonici, I. 214. Bánk, J., Egyházi jog, 61.

38 V ermeersch, A. - Creusen, J., Epitome iuris canonici, 1.214. Bánk, J., Egyházi jog, 61.

39 Caron. P. G., Corso di storia dei raparti fra Stati e Chiesa, II: Dal concilio di Trento ai nostri giorni, Milano 1985. 229-256.