Argentina: What changes does the transfer of the primal headquarters bring to the Catholic Church?

Following Pope Francis’ decision to move the primal see of Argentina – until now in Buenos Aires – to Santiago del Estero, elevating it at the same time to archiepiscopal see, some important questions arise, such as what this title means and what implications it has, as well as what changes it produces within the Church.

What is a primary headquarters?

Father Alejandro Russo, rector of the Buenos Aires cathedral, explained in a interview with the program Poliedro, from Canal Orbe 21that “the Latin Church has the custom, rooted in time, of declaring primacy that diocese, that particular Church that was the first in what later became the national territories.”

“For example, Lyon is from France, Toledo is from Spain, it is neither Paris nor Madrid, because it is the oldest episcopal see in the territory, which does not mean that it is of the national configuration, because that is sometimes “It happens later,” he explained.

He canon 438 of the Code of Canon Law it needs “Apart from the honorific prerogative, the title of Patriarch or Primate does not carry with it any power of regime in the Latin Church, unless in some case something else is established by apostolic privilege or by approved custom.”

Furthermore, in this particular case, although it is elevated to an archiepiscopal see, Santiago del Estero will continue to be part of the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Tucumán. For this reason, the archbishop will not wear a pallium, “because the pallium is worn by archbishops who are metropolitans, who preside over ecclesiastical provinces,” noted Father Russo.

In Argentina, the primacy does not have its own statute either, the priest explained. “In other parts of the world, for example in Hungary, or in Poland, or elsewhere, the primate has, for example, the right to have a Superior Ecclesiastical Court of third instance,” which in Argentina never existed.

It is an honorable mention “for being a bishop in the oldest place,” he reiterated.

The historical tour

In Argentina, “the first episcopal see, erected in what would later become the territory of the Argentine Republic, was a diocese based in the current district of Santiago del Estero, which was called the diocese of Tucumán, because it was the region that which also received that name,” Father Russo recalled.

“Immediately, the Pope, Saint Pius V, at that time created a diocese and placed a bishop – the Holy Father rightly says in the bull of transfer – where the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Saint Paul was erected, which today does not exist. It is not either, but it was the first time that in this territory, which would later become the Argentine Republic, the announcement of the Gospel was heard from a successor of the Apostles, a Bishop,” he pointed out.

“In that place where the Diocese of Santiago del Estero is today was the first cathedral, in what would later become Argentine territory,” he summarized.

“For this reason, because it is then the oldest place, the heir of that oldest diocese, the current diocese of Santiago del Estero, which was erected in 1907, the title of primacy corresponds to it.”

Why did Buenos Aires have the title of Primate Archdiocese?

In January 1936, almost a month after having created Bishop Santiago Luis Copello as a cardinal, Pope Pius XI decreed that Buenos Aires would be the primal see, explained the rector of the cathedral.

However, “the custom of the Church is not to declare the first archbishopric the primate seat, but rather to declare the first diocese the primate seat,” he clarified.

Although “that first diocese of Tucumán does not exist,” because in 1690 the headquarters was transferred to Córdoba, “the territory where the first cathedral was, where the first diocese was, is the territory of the current Diocese of Santiago del Estero.”

What does it mean for Santiago del Estero to be elevated to archiepiscopal see?

“The archiepiscopal sees are so because they preside over an ecclesiastical province, which is a group of dioceses: here Buenos Aires is an archbishopric and has all the dioceses of the suburbs and some more, which are called suffragans, that is, they are around and then make up the ecclesiastical province of Buenos Aires,” he explained.

However, in this case, “Santiago del Estero will not have an ecclesiastical province, it will be elevated honorary to archiepiscopal see”, but “it will depend on the Archdiocese of Tucumán as Tucumán is a metropolitan see.”

According to the Code of Canon Lawin the suffragan dioceses it is the responsibility of the metropolitan archbishop, among other functions, “to ensure that faith and ecclesiastical discipline are diligently preserved” and, “when circumstances require it, the Metropolitan may receive from the Holy See peculiar commissions and powers that will determine the particular law.”

The Bishop of Santiago del Estero, Mons. Vicente Bokalic, referred to the same topic in dialogue with Radio Maria: “Pastorally, we continue to depend on the metropolitan Church of Tucumán, we belong to Tucumán and it is clearly expressed in the communication from the Holy See,” he stated.

“Our mother Church, our metropolitan Church is Tucumán, so these are titles that help us recognize history, they help us a little to know more about our roots, which is always good to know, especially in times of great changes: No “cut with the roots and look a little at those great men and women who have planted the Gospel in our lands.”

What changes then?

Now, Father Russo clarified, “it will say ‘Archdiocese of Santiago del Estero, primacy of the Argentine Republic’.” Buenos Aires then ceases to be primate, and from this change “the primates in Argentina will be all those who are archbishops of Santiago del Estero.”

Until now, Father Russo listed, the primates of Argentina were Cardinal Santiago Luis Copello, Mons. Fermín Emilio Lafitte, Cardinal Antonio Caggiano, Cardinal Juan Carlos Aramburu, Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio — today Pope Francisco—, Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli and the last, Mons. Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva.

“Now we will have to count the primates who will begin the list with Mons. Bokalic, who will be the Primate Archbishop as he is archbishop of the see of Santiago del Estero.”

What is happening now with the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires?

“Buenos Aires, of course, will remain with the historical dimension, with the reality of being the archdiocese that is the seat of the National Government, which was where the first part of independence took place with the May feat; of being an ancient see: the Diocese of Buenos Aires dates back to 1620, it is 400 or so years old, and of course with the baggage of historical and neuralgic circumstances as the city of Buenos Aires itself has,” the priest highlighted.

What consequences does this decision by Pope Francis have?

“First, this gesture by Pope Francis invites us to historical truth, this is very typical of the Pope: The Pope does not like it when historical things are not truly respected. That is, the first diocese is that one, not this one,” said Father Russo.

“Secondly, I do not believe that this is the Pope’s intention, but as a consistent thing, he also makes us remember the spiritual figure of Saint Mama Antula, who also comes from Santiago del Estero to Buenos Aires and who, in some way “Symbolically, that holiness and that preaching of the Gospel that she brings with all her own charisma — today recognized by both the Church and the one that canonized her — comes from Santiago del Estero to Buenos Aires.”

Along these lines, Bishop Bokalic expressed: “Mama Antula has a lot to teach us and a lot to say in these times to all Christians, to the entire Church, to pastors, to those responsible, to pastoral agents, it is a immense gift.”

“We are heirs, we are a link on this path to serve better, to be in these very challenging hours, with so many problems at the national level, at the global level, to sow what we have received,” he said.

Father Russo considered that this event “invites us to take an internal look at the country,” calling to reverse the thought that “God is everywhere and serves in Buenos Aires,” a common phrase that refers to centralism in the country. , because “God is everywhere and serves everywhere, so the ecclesiastical also makes us look at some deep dioceses, in the interior of the country, such as Santiago del Estero”, having “a more federal vision.”