Motu Proprio Of  Bishop Thuc

"Plenitudine Potestatis"

THE LATIN READS:

            Plenitudine potestatis

Sanctae Sedis Apostolicae deputamos

In Nostrum Legatum Petrum Martinum

Ngo Dinh-Thuc Episcopum titularem

Saesinensem ad fines Nobis notos, cum

cum omnibus necessariis facultatibus.

 

            Datum Romae apud S. Petrum, 

die X V mensis Martii MCMXXXVIII

Pontificatus Nostri anno septimo decimo.

 

                Pius PP XI

THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION READS:

By virtue of the Plenitude of the powers of the Holy Apostolic See, we invest in our Legate Pierre Martin Ngo Dinh Thuc, titular Bishop of Saigon, all necessary faculties, for purposes known to us. 

Given at Rome at Saint Peter's, on 15 March 1938, the seventeenth year of our pontificate. Pope Pius XI

The Nature of Archbishop Thuc's Powers

An important issue needs to be raised here. It is often objected that the "Thuc" consecrations are illicit (i.e. contrary to the law of the Church). This is because, if any bishop consecrates another bishop without papal permission, they receive an excommunication reserved to the Holy See. In Archbishop Thuc's case, this is not so. Pius XI had conceded special powers to Thuc to perform consecrations without referring to Rome for approval (powers we should point out which were never revoked). In 1987 the traditionalist publication "Sous la Bannière" published the above text of this "Motu Proprio".

A similar case is where the same Pope, Pius XI, conceded identical powers to another prelate. On 10 March 1920, Pius XI dictated the same motu proprio for Mgr d'Herbigny (S.J.). The account is recorded in the book of Father Paul Lesourd, published by Lethielleux Editions under the title "Le Jesuite clandestine".

Here is that translation: Motu Proprio By virtue of the plenitude of the Apostolic power, we appoint as our Delegate Michel d'Herbigngy (S.J.), titular bishop of Troie, whom we invest with all the appropriate and necessary powers, for purposes known to us. Given at Rome at Saint Peter's, on 10 March 1926, the fifth year of our pontificate. Pius XI, Pope.