Kodyfikacja prawa kanonicznego za Benedykta XV

Abstract

One of the most import ant achievements of Pope Benedict XV’s pontifcate was the promulgation of the Code of Canon Law on 19 May 1918. The code was an authentic collection, therefore, all orders included in it became the common law. It also became an exclusive collection in the sense that it excluded collections used up to that date. This happened for the first time in the history of the Church. The code was exclusive only in regard to the law of the Latin Church. All common and particular articles existing before that date which were against the rules of the Code were cancelled, unless it was decided otherwise regarding some of the particular articles. In the Code, Benedict advocated the doctrinal continuity and traditional Catholic teaching expressed through the law orders. He perceived the code as an aid to regulating the church life and a way of looking for common grounds between it and the civil communities. Undoubtedly, the code contributed to the further development of the study of law in the Church.