“Cum ex Apostolatus Officio” is the name of a papal bull issued by Pope Paul IV on 15 February 1559 as a codification and explicitation of the ancient Catholic law that only Catholics can be elected Popes, to the exclusion of non-Catholics, including former Catholics who have become public and manifest heretics.
This Papal Bull is also focused on the validity of a prelate or Pope in the event they were in heresy or apostasy. Because it deals with faith and morals and was issued ex-cathedra (from the Chair of Peter) and therefore is considered not only infallible, but to be held in perpetuity. In plain English, this document is about the danger of heretical authorities and the false election of a Pope.
The immediate provocation was Pope Paul’s suspicion that Cardinal Giovanni Morone, who was popular and expected to succeed him, was secretly a Protestant. Pope Paul IV believed that it was necessary to prevent or negate Morone’s possible election as his successor. He wanted to set it in Church law that no manifest heretic can lawfully hold the Office of St. Peter.
“Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” [2 Thessalonians 2:3]
| “Cum ex Apostolatus Officio” in Latin | “Cum ex Apostolatus Officio” in English |
| Cum ex apostolatus officio Nobis, meritis licet imparibus, divinitus credito, cura Dominici gregis Nobis immineat generalis, et exinde teneamur pro fideli illius custodia, et salubri directione, more vigilis Pastoris, assidue vigilare, et attentius providere, ut qui hac aetate, peccatis exigentibus, propriae prudentiae innitentes scientius, et perniciosius solito contra orthodoxae fidei disciplinam insurgunt, et superstitiosis, ac fictitiis adinventionibus sacrarum Scripturarum intelligentiam pervertentes, Catholicae Ecclesiae unitatem et inconsutilem Domini tunicam scindere moliuntur, ab ovili Christi repellantur, nec magisterium erroris continuent, qui discipuli veritatis esse contemnunt. | By virtue of the Apostolic office which, despite our unworthiness, has been entrusted to Us by God, We are responsible for the general care of the flock of the Lord. Because of this, in order that the flock may be faithfully guarded and beneficially directed, We are bound to be diligently watchful after the manner of a vigilant Shepherd and to ensure most carefully that certain people who consider the study of the truth beneath them should be driven out of the sheepfold of Christ and no longer continue to disseminate error from positions of authority. We refer in particular to those who in this age, impelled by their sinfulness and supported by their cunning, are attacking with unusual learning and malice the discipline of the orthodox Faith, and who, moreover, by perverting the import of Holy Scripture, are striving to rend the unity of the Catholic Church and the seamless tunic of the Lord. |
| 1. Nos considerantes rem huiusmodi adeo gravem, et periculosam esse, ut Romanus Pontifex, qui Dei, et Domini Nostri Iesu Christ vices gerit in terris, et super gentes, et regna plenitudinem obtinet potestatis, omnesque iudicat, a nemine in hoc saeculo iudicandus, possit, si deprehendatur a fide devius, redargui, et quod ubi maius intenditur periculum, ibi est plenius, et diligentius consulendum, ne pseudoprophetae, aut alii etiam saecularem iurisdictionem habentes, simplicium animas miserabiliter illaqueent, innumerabilesque populos eorum in spiritualibus, aut temporalibus curae, et regimini commissos, secum in perditionem, et damnationis interitum trahant, nec aliquando contingat Nos abominationem desolationis, quae dicta est a Daniele Propheta, in loco sancto videre, cupientes, quantum cum Deo possumus, pro nostro munere Pastorali vulpes vineam Domini demoliri satagentes capere, et lupos ab ovilibus arcere, ne canes muti videamur nequeuntes latrare, et perdamur cum malis agricolis, ac mercenario comparemur. | 1.In assessing Our duty and the situation now prevailing, We have been weighed upon by the thought that a matter of this kind [i.e. error in respect of the Faith] is so grave and so dangerous that the Roman Pontiff,who is the representative upon earth of God and our God and Lord Jesus Christ, who holds the fulness of power over peoples and kingdoms, who may judge all and be judged by none in this world, may nonetheless be contradicted if he be found to have deviated from the Faith. Remembering also that, where danger is greater, it must more fully and more diligently be counteracted, We have been concerned lest false prophets or others, even if they have only secular jurisdiction, should wretchedly ensnare the souls of the simple, and drag with them into perdition, destruction and damnation countless peoples committed to their care and rule, either in spiritual or in temporal matters; and We have been concerned also lest it may befall Us to see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by the prophet Daniel, in the holy place. In view of this, Our desire has been to fulfil our Pastoral duty, insofar as, with the help of God, We are able, so as to arrest the foxes who are occupying themselves in the destruction of the vineyard of the Lord and to keep the wolves from the sheepfolds, lest We seem to be dumb watchdogs that cannot bark and lest We perish with the wicked husbandman and be compared with the hireling. |
| 2. Habita super his cum venerabilibus fratribus nostris S. R. E. Cardinalibus deliberatione matura, de eorum consilio, et unanimi assensu omnes, et singulas excommunicationis, suspensionis, et interdicti, ac privationis, et quasvis alias sententias, censuras, et poenas a quibusvis Romanis Pontificibus Praedecessoribus nostris, aut pro talibus habitis, etiam per eorum literas extravagantes, seu sacris Conciliis ab Ecclesia Dei receptis, vel Sanctorum Patrum decretis, et statutis, aut sacris Canonibus, ac Constitutionibus, et Ordinationibus Apostolicis contra haereticos, aut schismaticos quomodolibet latas, et promulgatas, Apostolica auctoritate approbamus, et innovamus, ac perpetuo observari, et in viridi observantia,
(i) si forsan in ea non sint, reponi, et esse debere, necnon quoscumque, qui hactenus a fide Catholica deviasse, aut in aliquam haeresim incidisse, seu schisma incurrisse, aut excitasse, seu commisisse comprehensi, aut confessi, vel convicti fuerint, (iii)seu committent, et deviasse, seu incidisse, aut incurrisse, vel excitasse, seu commisisse deprehendentur, aut confitebuntur, seu convincentur, cuiuscumque status, gradus, ordinis, conditionis, et praeminentiae existant, etiamsi Episcopali, Archiepiscopali, Patriarchali, Primatiali, aut alia maiori dignitate Ecclesiastica, seu Cardinalatus honore, et Apostolicae Sedis ubivis locorum, tam perpetuae quam temporalis Legationis munere, vel mundana etiam Comitali, Baronali, Marchionali, Ducali, Regia, et Imperiali auctoritate, seu excellentia praefulgeant, et eorum quemlibet sententias, censuras, poenas praedictas incurrere volumus atque decernimus. | 2 Hence, concerning these matters, We have held mature deliberation with our venerable brothers the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church; and, upon their advice and with their unanimous agreement, we now enact as follows:-
In respect of each and every sentence of excommunication, suspension, interdict and privation and any other sentences, censures and penalties against heretics or schismatics, enforced and promulgated in any way whatsoever by any of Our predecessors the Roman Pontiffs, or by any who were held to be such (even by their “litterae extravagantes” i.e. private letters), or by the sacred Councils received by the Church of God, or by decrees of the Holy Fathers and the statutes, or by the sacred Canons and the Constitutions and Apostolic Ordinations – all these measures, by Apostolic authority, We approve and renew, that they may and must be observed in perpetuity and, if perchance they be no longer in lively observance, that they be restored to it. Thus We will and decree that the aforementioned sentences, censures and penalties be incurred without exception by all members of the following categories: (i) Anysoever who, before this date, shall have been detected to have deviated from the Catholic Faith, or fallen into any heresy, or incurred schism, or provoked or committed either or both of these, or who have confessed to have done any of these things, or who have been convicted of having done any of these things. (ii) Anysoever who (which may God, in His clemency and goodness to all, deign to avert) shall in the future so deviate or fall into heresy, or incur schism, or shall provoke or commit either or both of these. (iii) Anysoever who shall be detected to have so deviated, fallen, incurred, provoked or committed, or who shall confess to have done any of these things, or who shall be convicted of having done any of these things. These sanctions, moreover, shall be incurred by all members of these categories, of whatever status, grace, order, condition and pre-eminence they may be, even if they be endowed with the Episcopal, Archiepiscopal, Patriarchal, Primatial or some other greater Ecclesiastical dignity, or with the honour of the Cardinalate and of the Universal Apostolic See by the office of Legate, whether temporary or permanent, or if they be endowed with even worldly authority or excellence, as Count, Baron, Marquis, Duke, King or Emperor. All this We will and decree. |
| 3. Et nihilominus considerantes dignum esse, ut qui virtutis amore a malis non abstinent, metu poenarum ab illis deterreantur, et quod Episcopi, Archiepiscopi, Patriarchae, Primates, Cardinales, Legati, Comites, Barones, Marchiones, Duces, Reges, et Imperatores, (qui alios docere, et illis bono exemplo, ut in fide Catholica contineantur), esse debent, praevaricando gravius ceteris peccant, cum non solum seipsos perdant, verum etiam alios innumerabiles populos eorum curae, et regimini creditos, seu alias eis subditos, secum in perditionem, et puteum interitus trahant, de similibus consilio,
et assensu, hac nostra in perpetuum valitura constitutione, in odium tanti criminis, quo nullum in Ecclesia Dei maius, aut perniciosius esse potest, de Apostolicae potestatis plenitudine sancimus, statuimus, decernimus, et definimus, quod sententiis, censuris, et poenis praedictis in suo robore, et efficacia remanentibus, ac effectum suum sortientibus, (i) omnes, et singuli Episcopi, Archiepiscopi, Patriarchae, Primates, Cardinales, Legati, Comites, Barones, Marchiones, Duces, Reges, et Imperatores, qui hactenus, (c) cum in hoc inexcusabiliores ceteris reddantur, ultra sententias, censuras, et poenas praedictas, sint etiam eo ipso, absque aliquo iuris, aut facti ministerio, suis Ordinibus, et Cathedralibus etiam Metropolitan. Patriarchalibus, et Primatialibus Ecclesiis, ac Cardinalatus honore, et cuiusvis Legationis munere, necnon voce activa, et passiva, omnique auctoritate, ac Monasteriis, beneficiis, et officiis Ecclesiasticis, cum cura, et sine cura, saecularibus, et quorumvis Ordinum regularibus, quae ex quibusvis concessionibus, et dispensationibus Apostolicis in titulum, commendam, et administrationem, (ii) aut alias quomodolibet obtinuerint, et in quibus, vel ad quae ius aliquod habuerint, necnon quibusvis fructibus, redditibus, et proventibus annuis super similibus fructibus, redditibus, et proventibus eis reservatis, et assignatis, Comitatibus quoque, Baroniis, Marchionatibus, Ducatibus, Regnis, et Imperio penitus, et in totum, perpetuo privati, et ad illa de cetero inhabiles, et incapaces, habeanturque pro relapsis, et subversis in omnibus, et per omnia, perinde ac si prius haeresim huiusmodi in iudicio publice abiurassent, nec ullo umquam tempore ad eorum pristinum statum, aut Cathedrales, Metropolitanas, Patriarchales, et Primatiales Ecclesias, seu Cardinalatus, vel alium honorem, aut quamvis aliam maiorem, vel minorem dignitatem, seu vocem activam, vel passivam, aut auctoritatem, seu Monasteria, et beneficia, vel Comitatus, Baronias, Marchionatus, Ducatus, Regna, et Imperium restitui, reponi, reintegrari, aut rehabilitari possint, quinimmo saecularis relinquantur arbitrio potestatis animadversione debita puniendi, nisi apparentibus in eis verae poenitentiae indiciis, et condignae poenitentiae fructibus, ex ipsius Sedis benignitate, et clementia in aliquo Monasterio, aut alio Regulari loco ad peragendum perpetuam in pane doloris, et aquae moestitiae poenitentiam retrudendi fuerint. (iii) Quodque pro talibus ab omnibus cuiuscumque status, gradus, ordinis, conditionis, et praeeminentiae existentibus, ac quacumque etiam Episcopali, Archiepiscopali, Patriarchali, et Primatiali, aut alia maiori Ecclesiastica dignitate, et etiam Cardinalatus honore, seu mundana, etiam Comitali, Baronali, Marchionali, Ducali, Regia, et Imperiali auctoritate, excellentia pollentibus haberi, tractari, et reputari, et ut tales evitari, omnique humanitatis solatio destitui debeant. | 3. Nonetheless, We also consider it proper that those who do not abandon evil deeds through love of virtue should be deterred therefrom by fear of punishment; and We are aware that Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals and Legates, Counts, Barons, Marquises, Dukes, Kings and Emperors (who ought to teach others and offer them a good example in order to preserve them in the Catholic Faith), by failing in their duty sin more gravely than others; since they not only damn themselves, but also drag with them into perdition and into the pit of death countless other people entrusted to their care or rule, or otherwise subject to them, by their like counsel and agreement.
Hence, by this Our Constitution which is to remain valid in perpetuity, in abomination of so great a crime (than which none in the Church of God can be greater or more pernicious) by the fulness of our Apostolic Power, We enact, determine, decree and define (since the aforesaid sentences, censures and penalties are to remain in efficacious force and strike all those whom they are intended to strike) that: (i) each and every member of the following categories – Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals, Legates, Counts, Barons, Marquises, Dukes, Kings and Emperors – who: (a)hitherto (as We have already said) have been detected, or have confessed to have, or have been convicted of having, deviated [i.e. from the Catholic Faith], or fallen into heresy or incurred schism or provoked or committed either or both of these; (c) since in this they are rendered more inexcusable than the rest in addition to the aforementioned sentences, censures and penalties, shall also automatically, without any exercise of law or application of fact, be thoroughly, entirely and perpetually deprived of:- their Orders and Cathedrals, even Metropolitan, Patriarchal and Primatial Churches, the honour of the Cardinalate and the office of any embassy whatsoever, not to mention both active and passive voting rights, all authority, Monasteries, benefices and Ecclesiastical offices, be they functional or sinecures, secular or religious of whatsoever Order, which they may have obtained by any concessions whatsoever, or by Apostolic Dispensations to title, charge and administration or otherwise howsoever, and in which or to which they may have any right whatsoever, likewise any whatsoever fruits, returns or annual revenues from like fruits, returns and revenues reserved for and assigned to them, as well as Countships, Baronies, Marquisates, Dukedoms, Kingships and Imperial Power; (ii) that, moreover, they shall be unfit and incapable in respect of these things and that they shall be held to be backsliders and subverted in every way, just as if they had previously abjured heresy of this kind in public trial; that they shall never at any time be able to be restored, returned, reinstated or rehabilitated to their former status or Cathedral, Metropolitan, Patriarchal and Primatial Churches, or the Cardinalate, or other honour, any other dignity, greater or lesser, any right to vote, active or passive, or authority, or Monasteries and benefices, or Countships, Baronies, Marquisates, Dukedoms, Kingships and positions of Imperial power; but rather that they shall be abandoned to the judgement of the secular power to be punished after due consideration, unless there should appear in them signs of true penitence and the fruits of worthy repentance, and, by the kindness and clemency of the See itself, they shall have been sentenced to sequestration in any Monastery or other religious house in order to perform perpetual penance upon the bread of sorrow and the water of affliction; (iii) that all such individuals also shall be held, treated and reputed as such by everyone, of whatsoever status, grade, order, condition or pre-eminence he may be and whatsoever excellence may be his, even Episcopal, Archiepiscopal, Patriarchal and Primatial or other greater Ecclesiastical dignity and even the honour of the Cardinalate, or secular, even the authority of Count, Baron, Marquis, Duke, King or Emperor, and as such must be avoided and must be deprived of the sympathy of all natural kindess. |
| 4. Et qui iuspatronatus, aut nominandi personas idoneas ad Cathedrales, etiam Metropolitanas, et Patriarchales, ac Primatiales Ecclesias, seu Monasteria, vel alia beneficia Ecclesiastica per privationem huiusmodi vacantia habere praetenderint, ne illa diutinae vacationis exponantur incommodis, sed de servitute haereticorum erepta personis concedantur idoneis, quae illarum populos in semitas iustitiae fideliter dirigant, teneantur ad Ecclesias, Monasteria, et beneficia huiusmodi alias personas idoneas infra tempus a iure, vel ex eorum concordatis, seu compactatis cum dicta Sede initis statutum, Nobis seu pro tempore existenti Romano Pontifici praesentare, alioquin tempore huiusmodi elapso plena, et libera Ecclesiarum, Monasteriorum, et beneficiorum praedictorum dispositio ad Nos, et Romanum Pontificem praedictum eo ipso pleno iure devolvatur. | 4. [By this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity, We] further enact, determine, decree and define:] that those who shall have claimed to have the right of patronage or of nominating suitable persons to Cathedral, Metropolitan, Patriarchal and Primatial Churches, or to Monasteries or other Ecclesiastical benefices which may be vacant by privation of this kind (in order that those which shall have been vacant for a long time may not be exposed to the unfit, but, having been rescued from enslavement to heretics, may be granted to suitable persons who would faithfully direct their people in the paths of justice), shall be bound to present other persons suitable to Churches, Monasteries and benefices of this kind, to Us, or to the Roman Pontiff at that time existing, within the time determined by law, or by their concordats, or by compacts entered into with the said See; and that, if they shall not have done so when the said period shall have elapsed, the full and free disposition of the aforesaid Churches, Monasteries and benefices shall by the fulness of the law itself devolve upon Us or upon the aforesaid Roman Pontiff. |
| 5. Et insuper qui ipsos sic deprehensos, aut confessos, vel convictos scienter quomodolibet receptare, vel defendere, aut eis favere, vel credere, seu eorum dogmata dogmatizare praesumpserint,
(i) sententiam excommunicationis eo ipso incurrant, (iii) nec voce, persona, scriptis, vel nuncio, aut procuratore aliquo ad publica, seu privata officia, aut consilia, seu Synodum, vel Concilium generale, vel provinciale, nec conclave Cardinalium, aut aliquam fidelium congregationem, seu electionem alicuius, (iv) aut testimonium perhibendum admittantur, nec admitti possint. (v) Sint etiam intestabiles, nec ad haereditatis successionem accedant, nullus praeterea cogatur eis super aliquo negotio respondere. (vi) Quod si forsan Iudices extiterint, eorum sententiae nullam obtineant firmitatem, (vii) nec aliquae causae ad eorum audientiam deducantur, (viii) et si fuerint Advocati, eorum patrocinium nullatenus recipiatur, (ix) si vero Tabelliones extiterint, instrumenta confecta per eos nullius sint penitus roboris, vel momenti. (x) Et insuper clerici omnibus, et singulis Ecclesiis, etiam Cathedralibus, Metropolitan. Patriarchalibus, et Primatialibus, ac dignitatibus, Monasteriis, beneficiis, et officiis Ecclesiasticis, (xi) etiam, ut praefertur, qualificatis per eos quomodolibet obtentis, et tam ipsi, quam laici, etiam, ut praemittitur qualificati, et dignitatibus praedictis praediti quibuscumque Regnis, Ducatibus, Dominiis, Feudis, (xii) et bonis temporalibus per eos possessis privati existant eo ipso, Regnaque, Ducatus, Dominia, Feuda, et bona huiusmodi publicentur, et publica sint, efficianturque iuris, et proprietatis eorum, qui illa primo occupaverint, si in sinceritate fidei, et unitate S. R. E. ac sub nostra, et successorum nostrorum Romanorum Pontificum canonice intrantium obedientia fuerint. | 5. [By this Our Constitution,] moreover, [which is to remain valid in perpetuity, We] also [enact, determine, decree and define:] as follows concerning those who shall have presumed in any way knowingly to receive, defend, favour, believe or teach the teaching of those so apprehended, confessed or convicted:
(i) they shall automatically incur sentence of excommunication; (iii) they shall be excluded on pain of invalidity from any public or private office, deliberation, Synod, general or provincial Council and any conclave of Cardinals or other congregation of the faithful, and from any election or function of witness, so that they cannot take part in any of these by vote, in person, by writings, representative or by any agent; (iv) they shall be incapable of making a will; (v) they shall not accede to the succession of heredity; (vi) no one shall be forced to respond to them concerning any business; (vii) if perchance they shall have been Judges, their judgements shall have no force, nor shall any cases be brought to their hearing.; (viii) if they shall have been Advocates, their pleading shall nowise be received; (ix) if they shall have been Notaries, documents drafted by them shall be entirely without strength or weight; (x) clerics shall be automatically deprived of each and every Church, even Cathedral, Metropolitan, Patriarchal, Primatial, and likewise of dignities, Monasteries, benefices and Ecclesiastical offices, and even, as has been already mentioned, of qualifications, howsoever obtained by them; (xi) laymen, moreover, in the same way – even if they be qualified, as already described, or endowed with the aforesaid dignities or anysoever Kingdoms, Duchies, Dominions, Fiefs and temporal goods possessed by them; (xii) finally, all Kingdoms, Duchies, Dominions, Fiefs and goods of this kind shall be confiscated, made public and shall remain so, and shall be made the rightful property of those who shall first occupy them if these shall be sincere in faith, in the unity of the Holy Roman Church and under obedience to Us and to Our successors the Roman Pontiffs canonically entering office. |
| 6. Adiicientes quod si ullo umquam tempore apparuerit aliquem Episcopum, etiam pro Archiepiscopo, seu Patriarcha, vel Primate se gerentem, aut praedictae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem, etiam ut praefertur, Legatum, seu etiam Romanum Pontificem ante eius promotionem, vel in Cardinalem, seu Romanum Pontificem assumptionem a fide Catholica deviasse, aut in aliquam haeresim incidisse,
(i) promotio, seu assumptio de eo etiam in concordia, et de unanimi omnium Cardinalium assensu facta, nulla, irrita, (ii) et inanis existat, nec per susceptionem muneris, consecrationis, aut subsecutam regiminis, et administrationis possessionem, seu quasi, vel ipsius Romani Pontificis inthronizationem, aut adorationem, seu ei praestitam ab omnibus obedientiam, et cuiusvis temporis in praemissis cursum, convaluisse dici, aut convalescere possit, (iii) nec pro legitima in aliqua sui parte habeatur, (iv) nullamque talibus in Episcopos, seu Archiepiscopos, vel Patriarchas aut Primates promotis, seu in Cardinales, vel Romanum Pontificem assumptis, in spiritualibus, vel temporalibus administrandi facultatem tribuisse, (v) aut tribuere censeatur, sed omnia, et singula per eos quomodolibet dicta, facta, gesta, et administrata, ac inde secuta quaecumque viribus careant, et nullam prorsus firmitatem, nec ius alicui tribuant, (vi) sintque ipsi sic promoti, et assumpti, eo ipso absque aliqua desuper facienda declaratione, omni dignitate, loco, honore, titulo, auctoritate, officio, et potestate privati, liceatque omnibus, et singulis sic promotis, et assumptis, si a fide antea non deviassent, nec haeretici fuissent, neque schisma incurrissent, aut excitassent, vel commisissent. | 6. In addition, [by this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity We enact, determine, decree and define:] that if ever at any time it shall appear that any Bishop, even if he be acting as an Archbishop, Patriarch or Primate; or any Cardinal of the aforesaid Roman Church, or, as has already been mentioned, any legate, or even the Roman Pontiff, prior to his promotion or his elevation as Cardinal or Roman Pontiff, has deviated from the Catholic Faith or fallen into some heresy:
(i) the promotion or elevation, even if it shall have been uncontested and by the unanimous assent of all the Cardinals, shall be null, void and worthless; (ii) it shall not be possible for it to acquire validity (nor for it to be said that it has thus acquired validity) through the acceptance of the office, of consecration, of subsequent authority, nor through possession of administration, nor through the putative enthronement of a Roman Pontiff, or Veneration, or obedience accorded to such by all, nor through the lapse of any period of time in the foregoing situation; (iii) it shall not be held as partially legitimate in any way; (iv) to any so promoted to be Bishops, or Archbishops, or Patriarchs, or Primates or elevated as Cardinals, or as Roman Pontiff, no authority shall have been granted, nor shall it be considered to have been so granted either in the spiritual or the temporal domain; (v) each and all of their words, deeds, actions and enactments, howsoever made, and anything whatsoever to which these may give rise, shall be without force and shall grant no stability whatsoever nor any right to anyone; (vi) those thus promoted or elevated shall be deprived automatically, and without need for any further declaration, of all dignity, position, honour, title, authority, office and power. |
| 7. Subditis personis, tam clericis saecularibus, et regularibus, quam etiam laicis, necnon Cardinalibus, etiam qui electioni ipsius Pontificis antea a fide devii, aut haeretici, seu schismatici interfuerint, seu alias consenserint, et ei obedientiam praestiterint, eumque adoraverint, ac Castellanis, Praefectis, Capitaneis, et Officialibus etiam Almae Urbis nostrae, et totius Status Ecclesiastici, etiam eisdem sic promotis, vel assumptis homagio, seu iuramento, vel cautione obligatis, et obnoxiis, ab ipsorum sic promotorum, vel assumptorum obedientia, et devotione impune quandocumque cedere, eosque ut magos, ethnicos, publicanos, et haeresiarchas evitare, eisdem subditis personis fidelitati, et obedientiae futurorum Episcoporum, Archiepiscoporum, Patriarcharum, Primatum, Cardinalium, et Romani Pontificis canonice intrantis nihilominus adstrictis remanentibus, et ad maiorem ipsorum sic promotorum, et assumptorum, si eorum regimen, et administrationem continuare voluerint, confusionem, contra eosdem sic promotos, et assumptos, auxilium brachii saecularis implorare, nec propterea ab ipsorum sic promotorum, et assumptorum fidelitate, et obedientia, praemissorum occasione recedentes, tamquam tunicae Domini scissores aliquarum censurarum, seu poenarum ultioni subiaceant. | 7. Finally, [by this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity, We] also [enact, determine, define and decree]: that any and all persons who would have been subject to those thus promoted or elevated if they had not previously deviated from the Faith, become heretics, incurred schism or provoked or committed any or all of these, be they members of anysoever of the following categories: the Cardinals, even those who shall have taken part in the election of this very Pontiff previously deviating from the Faith or heretical or schismatical, or shall otherwise have consented and vouchsafed obedience to him and shall have venerated him;
Castellans, Prefects, Captains and Officials, even of Our Beloved City and of the entire Ecclesiastical State, even if they shall be obliged and beholden to those thus promoted or elevated by homage, oath or security; shall be permitted at any time to withdraw with impunity from obedience and devotion to those thus promoted or elevated and to avoid them as warlocks, heathens, publicans, and heresiarchs (the same subject persons, nevertheless, remaining bound by the duty of fidelity and obedience to any future Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals and Roman Pontiff canonically entering). To the greater confusion, moreover, of those thus promoted or elevated, if these shall have wished to prolong their government and authority, they shall be permitted to request the assistance of the secular arm against these same individuals thus promoted or elevated; nor shall those who withdraw on this account, in the aforementioned circumstances, from fidelity and obedience to those thus promoted and elevated, be subject, as are those who tear the tunic of the Lord, to the retribution of any censures or penalties. |
| 8. Non obstantibus constitutionibus, et ordinationibus Apostolicis, necnon privilegiis, indultis, et literis Apostolicis eisdem Episcopis, Archiepiscopis, Patriarchis, Primatibus, et Cardinalibus, ac quibusvis aliis sub quibuscumque tenoribus, et formis, ac cum quibusvis clausulis, et decretis, etiam Motu proprio, et ex certa scientia, ac de Apostolicae potestatis plenitudine, seu etiam consistorialiter, aut alias quomodolicet concessis, et etiam iteratis vicibus approbatis, et innovatis, ac etiam in corpore iuris clausis, necnon quibusvis capitulis conclavis, etiam iuramento, aut confirmatione Apostolica, vel quavis firmitate alia roboratis, et per nos ipsos iuratis. Quibus omnibus eorum tenores praesentibus pro expressis, ac de verbo ad verbum insertis habentes, illis alias in suo robore permansuris, hac vice dumtaxat specialiter, et expresse derogamus, ceterisque contrariis quibuscumque. | 8. [The provisions of this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity are to take effect] notwithstanding any Constitutions, Apostolic Ordinations, privileges, indults or Apostolic Letters, whether they be to these same Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates and Cardinals or to any others, and whatsoever may be their import and form, and with whatsoever sub-clauses or decrees they may have been granted, even “motu proprio” and by certain knowledge, from the fulness of the Apostolic power or even consistorially or otherwise howsoever; and even if they have been repeatedly approved and renewed,have been included in the corpus of the Law or strengthened by any capital conclaves whatsoever (even by oath) or by Apostolic confirmation or by anysoever other endorsements or if they were legislated by ourself. By this present document instead of by express mention, We specially and expressly derogate the provisions of all these by appropriate deletion and word-for-word substitution, so that these may otherwise remain in force. |
| 9. Ut autem praesentes literae ad omnium quorum interest notitiam deducantur, volumus eas, seu earum transumptum (cui manu notarii publici subscripto, et sigillo alicuius personae in dignitate ecclesiastica constitutae munito, plenam fidem adhiberi debere decernimus) in Basilicae Principis Apostolorum de Urbe, et Cancellariae Apostolicae valuis, atque in acie Campi Florae per aliquos ex cursoribus nostris publicari, et affigi, earumque copiam inibi affixam dimitti, publicationemque affixionem, et copiae affixae dimissionem huiusmodi sufficere, et pro solemni, et legitima haberi, nec aliam publicationem requiri, aut expectari debere. | 9. In order, however, that this document may be brought to the notice of all whom it concerns, We wish it or a transcription of it (to which, when made by the hand of the undersigned Public Notary and fortified by the seal of any person established in ecclesiastical dignity, We decree that complete trust must be accorded) to be published and affixed in the Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles in this City and on the doors of the Apostolic Chancery and in the pavilion of the Campus Florae by some of our couriers; [we] will [further] that a quantity of copies affixed in this place should be distributed, and that publication and affixing of this kind should suffice and be held as right, solemn and legitimate, and that no other publication should be required or awaited. |
| 10. Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostrae approbationis, innovationis, sanctionis, statuti, derogationis, voluntatum, decretorum infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attentare praesumpserit, indignationem Omnipotentis Dei, ac beatorum Petri, et Pauli Apostolorum eius se noverit incursurum.
Datum Romae apud Sanctum Petrum, Anno Incarnationis Dominicae 1559. 15. Kal. Martii, Pontificatus nostri anno 4. † Ego Paulus Catholicae Ecclesiae Episcopus. SS.________________________ Notae: Confirmatur haec constitutio a Pio V in eius bulla Inter multiplices. Pope Paul IV’s Apostolic Constitution Cum Ex Apostolatus Officio | 10. No one at all, therefore, may infringe this document of our approbation, re-introduction, sanction, statute and derogation of wills and decrees, or by rash presumption contradict it. If anyone, however, should presume to attempt this, let him know that he is destined to incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul.
Given in Rome at Saint Peter’s in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1559, 15th February, in the fourth year of our Pontificate. † I, Paul, Bishop of the Catholic Church of Rome Note: This Constitution was reinforced in his Papal Bull Inter multiplices [December 21, 1566] by Pope St. Pius V ________________________________ Note: Those words in brackets signify the Latin significance of the full authority of this Constitution above. |
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