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... 115

state authority. Moreover, it lays down the rights of ecclesiastical tribunals in regard to the proclamation of nullity of marriage bond and the dissolution of solemnized but not consummated marriage performed in canonical form.54 In addition to this, it regulates the functioning of military ordinary55, the conditions of activities and founding of religious orders or other congregations living an apostolic life56, the financial support of the Church57 58 *, or questions related to juridical and personal property of the Church.55

We can find more wide-ranging ordinances than this in the German concordat of July 20'h 1933 containing 34 Articles, which was signed by Eugenio Pacelli and Franz von Papén.5'' The purpose of this concordat was to secure the free functioning of the Catholic Church inside Germany, as it is written explicitly in Art. Is1. The validity of this document extended over Bavaria, Prussia, and Baden, with which provinces the Holy See already signed independent agreement earlier. The German State declared the Catholic Church’s free pastoral activities, free religious press work, and undisturbed spiritual work too.6" The agreement also touched upon the individual German diocese’s regional divisions and upon the criteria of establishing new dioceses.61 We can find further regulations about parishes62, right of presentation63, theological faculties operating in state universities64, foundation and function of priestly seminaries65, service of military chaplain66, and priests working in public health institutions.67 68 Regarding activities of parochial schools, the agreement makes decrees so that those could operate as private schools and those were under the ordinance of prevailing public educational and budgeting legislation concerning private schools.65 It is quite clear from this German concordat that Germany strongly intended to show publicly on international level how its political system tolerates the religious freedom, the activities of denominations and the free choice for education, which essentially differed from that reality which had been experienced openly six years later, in 1939, by the occupation of Czechoslovakia and Poland.

54 Art. VII §3: AAS 26 (1934) 258.

55 Art. Vili: AAS 26 ( 1934) 259-260.

56 Art. X: AAS 26 ( 1934) 261.

57 Art. XL AAS 26 ( 1934) 262-263.

58 Art. XIII: AAS 26 ( 1934) 264-265.

54 AAS 25 (1933) 389-413.

60 Art. 4: AAS 25 (1933) 391-392.

61 Art. 11 : AAS 25 ( 1933) 394-395.

62 Art. 13: AAS25 (1933) 395-396.

« Art. 14: AAS 25 ( 1933) 396-397.

M Art. 19: AAS 25 (1933) 400.

65 Art. 20: AAS 25 (1933) 400-401.

“ Art. 27: AAS 25 (1933) 404-405.

87 Art. 28: AAS 25 (1933) 405.

68 Arts. 24-25: AAS 25 ( 1933) 402-403.