Pope appoints St. Louis archbishop to Vatican's supreme court

Published: 2006-07-10

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis to the Vatican's Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature. The archbishop, who had worked for the court during 1989-94, was named a member of the body July 8. According to Pope John Paul II's 1988 apostolic constitution, "Pastor Bonus," the Apostolic Signature functions as the Vatican's supreme court and is charged with ensuring justice is administered correctly in all tribunals and by all offices of the Roman Curia. Many of the cases handled by the court are appeals to sentences of the Roman Rota dealing with marriage annulments. The Apostolic Signature also promotes and approves the establishment of interdiocesan tribunals around the world.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .