Magnum principium

Magnum principium ("The Great Principle") is an apostolic letter issued by Pope Francis and dated 3 September 2017 on his own authority. It modified the 1983 Code of Canon Law to shift responsibility and authority for translations of liturgical texts into modern languages to national and regional conferences of bishops and restrict the role of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (CDW). It was made public on 9 September 2017 and its effective date was 1 October of the same year.

While directly concerned only with liturgical texts, it represented a significant initiative in the program long advocated by Francis of changing the role of the Roman Curia in the Catholic Church and fostering "shared decision-making between local churches and Rome."[1][a] That he used canon law to achieve his aims demonstrated, in the view of liturgist Rita Ferrone, the intensity of his commitment to this project.[4]

  1. ^ "Pope pushes decentralization on translation of liturgical texts". CRUX. 9 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  2. ^ Pope Francis (24 November 2013). "Evangelii gaudium". Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  3. ^ O'Leary, Naomi (26 November 2013). "Pope attacks 'tyranny' of markets in manifesto for papacy". Reuters. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  4. ^ Horowitz, Jason (9 September 2017). "Pope Francis Shifts Power From Rome With 'Hugely Important' Liturgical Reform". New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2017.


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