Pope Leo XIV Grants Eastern Catholic Church Bishops Power to Remove Patriarchs
Pope Leo XIV issued an apostolic letter titled Mutua Concordia, granting bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches the authority to remove their patriarchs for a grave cause. Previously, a patriarchal see became vacant only through death or resignation. The new regulation allows theonsynod of bishops to recognize a grave cause and formally request a patriarch's resignation. If the patriarch refuses to leave office, the synod can vote to remove him by a secret ballot requiring a two-thirds majority. To ensure the process remains orderly, the most senior bishop with the right to vote will convene the synod if the patriarch fails to do so. The patriarch will retain the right to a full defense during the procedure. However, Pope Leo XIV retained the final assent of the Roman Pontiff as the necessary condition for the removal to take effect. This reform aims to provide aer fuller expression of internal autonomy for the Eastern patriarchal Churches, such as the Maronite, Coptic, and Syriac Churches, while maintaining the sacred bond of communion with the Roman Pontiff.