The time-honored basilica
With the Apostolic Letter The venerable basilica ( it . : L'antica e venerabile Basilica ), which Pope Benedict XVI. published on May 31, 2005 in the form of a motu proprio , some new regulations were set for the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and its extra-territorial area.
introduction
Pope Benedict XVI refers to the special importance of the basilica, which, together with the three other papal basilicas in Rome , was and will be a great attraction and center for pilgrimages every holy year . For more than thirteen centuries, the Benedictine abbey of the same name has served as an abbey church . Since 1929, as a result of the Lateran Treaty , the Pope has exercised civil violence over the buildings and the area with the entire complex ( extra-territorial area). (see Basic Law of the State of Vatican City ). With this motu proprio Benedict XVI. new “responsibilities of the legal entities concerned and their relationship to one another”.
Archpriest and Vicar
The archpriest will exercise direct jurisdiction over the basilica. The abbot of the Benedictine abbey, whose election must be confirmed by the Pope, will take over the pastoral care , and a delegate will be appointed to coordinate the administration. The superior of the order retains all the rights and obligations incumbent on him to manage the monastery .
Abolition of the Territorial Abbey
The official name of the abbey has been "Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls" since March 7, 2005 , so the title Territorial Abbey has been canceled. It follows from this that the archpriest remains responsible for general pastoral care within the extra-territorial area and that territorial responsibility has been transferred to the cardinal vicar of Rome.
Special tasks of the Benedictines
The Pope gives the Benedictines resident in the abbey the administrative right to exercise the sacrament of penance and to organize events with an ecumenical character. In addition, under the supervision of the archpriest, programs are to be organized and coordinated jointly with Benedictines from other abbeys and in coordination with the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity .