RESCRIPTUM EX AUDIENTIA SANCTISSIMI

Norms proper to the Exarchate for the Ukrainian Catholic faithful of the Byzantine rite in Italy

The Holy Father Francis, in the audience granted to the undersigned Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, on 23 June 2023, considering that the preservation of one's identity of origin is useful for the preservation and growth of the Catholic faith, has accepted the proposal to provide for whatever may be helpful for the fruitful spiritual care of those belonging to the Apostolic Exarchate for the Ukrainian Catholic faithful of the Byzantine rite residing in Italy, erected on 11 July 2019 by the Bull Christo Salvatori. Therefore, it has decided to adopt the following provisions:

Art. 1 - The Exarchate is a portion of the People of God formed by the faithful ascribed to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church sui iuris, with domicile or quasi-domicile in Italy and governed by the Exarch in the name of the Roman Pontiff.

Art. 2 - The Exarch is a member by right of the Italian Episcopal Conference and, consequently, is bound by the norms that regulate its functioning, and follows its directives.

Art. 3 - The Exarch, in the exercise of his office, must maintain close ties of communion and coordination with the bishops of the Italian dioceses and eparchies in which the Exarchate is present.

Art. 4 - To erect personal parishes, the Exarch shall obtain the opinion of the local bishops concerned and then informs the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches.

Art. 5 - The clerics of the Exarchate must cultivate a bond of unity with the presbytery of the diocese or Eparchy in whose territory they exercise their ministry. In this spirit, they shall foster joint pastoral and charitable initiatives and activities, which may be the subject of special agreements or conventions stipulated between the Exarch and the local bishop.

Article 6 - The clerics of the Exarchate and those of the dioceses or eparchies in whose territory the personal parish of the Exarchate is located shall exercise their ministry in mutual pastoral assistance.

Art. 7 - The pastoral service or presence for study in Italy of priests ascribed to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church sui iuris are regulated by agreements, according to the models established by the Italian Episcopal Conference, between the respective Hierarchs and the Exarch. If they are signed with a diocesan or eparchial bishop, the nihil obstat of the Exarch is required.

Art. 8 - The Exarch, with the permission of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, may erect new Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

From the Vatican, 28 August 2023

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti

Prefect