Obligation of Diocesan Bishop of a Visit ad limina Apostolorum

Abstract

The subject of the article is to characterize the obligation of diocesan bishop of a visit ad limina Apostolorum. At the beginning the author explains what such a duty results from and what entities are obliged to a visit ad limina Apostolorum. The obligation of a visit ad limina Apostolorum rests on the diocesan bishop and other high ecclesiastical officials who are equal to him under law, i.e. apostolic vicar, territorial abbot, territorial prelate, apostolic administrator of an apostolic administration which has been erected on a stable basis, military ordinary, personal ordinary of personal ordinariates for anglicans entering into full communion with the catholic Church and apostolic administrator of Personal Apostolic Administration of Saint John Maria Vianney. Then the author presents the preparation for a visit ad limina Apostolorum which includes two elements: remote preparation and immediate preparation. The first stage concerns the preparation of quinquennial report on the state of the diocese. The second one, in which particular task has the Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference and the Coordinating Office for the Visit, includes establishing a date and the schedule of the visit. The author describes each element of the visit, i.e. venerate the tombs of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, meeting the Roman Pontiff and visiting the Roman dicasteries.