Back in September, we brought you a story that we indeed took seriously (click here), yet others did not (click here). Now, we have our answer:
From Vatican Insider:
Pope abolishes honorary title of monsignor for diocesan
priests under the age of 65
Seeking to eliminate careerism in the Catholic clergy, Pope
Francis has abolished the conferral of the title of ‘monsignor’ on secular or
diocesan priests under the age of 65.
In a new move aimed at reforming the clergy and eliminating
careerism in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has abolished the conferral of
the Pontifical Honor of ‘Monsignor’ on secular priests under the age of 65.
Henceforth, the only Pontifical Honor that will be conferred
on ‘secular priests’ will be that of
‘Chaplain to His Holiness’ and this will be conferred only on ‘worthy priests’
who are over 65 years of age. (‘Secular priests’ are priests in a diocese, who
are not monks or members of religious institutes or orders).
The Vatican’s Secretariat of State has communicated this
news to Apostolic Nuncios around the world, and has asked them to inform all
bishops in their respective countries of the decision in this regard taken by
Pope Francis.
Thus, for example, on January 2, the Apostolic Nuncio to
Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, wrote to all the bishops in Great
Britain to inform them of the Pope’s decision.
He confirmed that “the privileges in this regard” that have already been
granted by the Roman Pontiff to “physical or juridical persons” remain in
force. This would suggest that the papal
decree is not retroactive, those who are already monsignors will not lose their
title.
The decision does not come as a surprise to those who know
Pope Francis. A humble man, he has
always been averse to ecclesiastical titles, and when he was bishop and later
cardinal in Argentina he always asked people to call him ‘Father’, instead of ‘My Lord’, ‘Your Grace’ or ‘Your
Eminence’; he is convinced that the name ‘Father’ best reflects the mission that has been entrusted to a
priest, bishop or cardinal. Indeed,
during his tenure as archbishop of Buenos Aires (1998-2013), he never asked the
Holy See to confer the title of ‘monsignor’ on any priest in the archdiocese.
In taking this decision, Pope Francis is building on the
reform in this area of ecclesiastical titles that was introduced by Paul VI in
1968, in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. Before Paul VI’s reform there
were 14 grades of ‘monsignor’, he reduced them to the three ranks that exist
today: Apostolic Protonotary, Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, Chaplain of His
Holiness. The original titles dated
back to the pontificate of Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644).
These three honors are granted by the Pope, usually on the
proposal of the local bishop, to Catholic priests who have rendered
particularly valuable service to the Church.
The priests are given these Pontifical Honors may be addressed as
‘Monsignor’ and has certain privileges, such as those regarding ecclesiastical
dress and vestments.
Many bishops have tended to use the honor as a way of
rewarding priests who are particularly loyal to them, or to promote priests who
have showed particular initiative, but not infrequently priests in their
dioceses have read it in a different light. Just before Christmas, a senior
Vatican prelate told me that Pope Francis had recently refused the request of
one bishop who had asked him to confer the title of ‘Monsignor’ on no less than
12 priests in his diocese.
Another
source told me that in some countries the Pontifical Honor is conferred in a
ceremony that, sometimes, is far from the style of Church that Francis desires.
The Pope’s decision does not make any changes regarding the
conferral of Pontifical Honors for Religious and Lay people, the Vatican
Secretariat of State stated in its communication to the nuncios. It said the same conditions apply as
previously for such honors, as does the mode for requesting them.
