Q & A Regarding Archbishop Burke's Appointment as Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura

Q. What is the appointment? A.His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Raymond L. Burke to the office of prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome. The Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority of the Catholic Church. The prefect is the highest authority at the Apostolic Signatura. Archbishop Burke replaces Cardinal Agostino Vallini. Q. When does the appointment become effective? A. The appointment is effective immediately, which means Archbishop Burke is no longer Archbishop of St. Louis. However, he will remain in St. Louis until his move to Rome in late August. Q. Who will oversee the Archdiocese of St. Louis? A. According to Canon Law, the College of Consultors, which is made up of local archdiocesan priests, will meet to elect an archdiocesan administrator who, with the help of the consultors, will govern the archdiocese until the new archbishop is appointed and installed. Q. Can the administrator make any changes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis? A. According to Canon 428, "When the see is vacant there are to be no innovations. Those who temporarily govern the diocese are prohibited from doing anything which could in any way be prejudicial to the diocese or episcopal rights; they themselves and any other persons are specifically prohibited from removing, destroying, or altering any documents of the diocesan curia, whether personally or through another." Q. How long will it take for St. Louis to get a new archbishop? A. The process for the naming of the new archbishop, which is conducted by the Holy Father's Congregation for Bishops, will begin immediately. Because it is a function of an archdiocese, the new archbishop will be appointed as soon as possible but with respect for the time which the process requires.