This week the Spanish bishops elect their president, vice president, the members of the Executive Commission, the presidents of the Episcopal Commissions, the president of the Episcopal Council for Legal Affairs, the members of the Episcopal Council for the Economy and the presidents of the Episcopal Subcommittees.
To renew the positions of president and vice president, those who have reached the age of 75 are excluded, by a decree of the Dicastery for Bishops of March 2022. At the same time, the decree “strongly recommends” that the same procedure be followed with those who will reach that age during the four-year period for which they would be elected.
This is a recommendation with the same force as the one made requesting the presentation of resignation for reasons of age to bishops, as explained by EEC sources.
Furthermore, all prelates with the right to vote can be elected to the positions of president and vice president, except auxiliaries. This reduces the possible candidates for these two positions to 49. For the rest of the positions, this exception does not apply.