METROPOLITAN. – He is the bishop who presides over the ecclesiastical province and has under him other bishops, called “suffragans” (from the suffrage to which they are entitled in the provincial council). He is entitled to the name “archbishop,” but not exclusively, since this is also granted, as an honorary title, to bishops immediately subject to the Holy See and lacking suffragans, or to titular bishops.
In the early centuries, metropolis (μητρόπολις) was the name given to the mother or principal city of the province (ἐπαργία), in which the Christian religion had first been preached, sometimes by the Apostles themselves, and from which it had spread to the other centers. For this reason, and also through the influence of the Roman provincial organization, the bishop of the metropolis came to exercise a certain jurisdiction over the comprovincial bishops (ἐπαργιώται), who from the eighth century onward were also called “suffragans.” In Africa, however, and perhaps also in Spain, metropolitan dignity was not attached to the principal see, but was assigned to the bishop senior in ordination. In the East, the Council of Nicaea of 325 already presupposes the existence of metropolitan organization; in the West, on the other hand, it was established gradually during the fourth and fifth centuries. In the early Middle Ages, the rights and duties of the m. were everywhere very extensive: they presided over the provincial council, intervened in all extraordinary affairs of their provinces, received appeals against the sentences and decrees of the suffragans, confirmed and consecrated them, and judged and deposed them. Since, however, their jurisdiction was of human law, it could gradually be restricted both by the strengthening of the dignity and independence of the suffragan bishops and, above all, by interventions of the Roman pontiffs, who, concerned by abuses, revoked the powers that had been acquired. This occurred, especially in the West, as early as the period preceding the authentic collections of the Decretals, also through the influence of Pseudo-Isidore, a determined adversary of metropolitan power. Nevertheless, under the law of the Decretals, not a few prerogatives remained to the m., and these were subsequently subject to new limitations. The Council of Trent reformed the entire discipline, which was substantially received into the CIC.
Under the law currently in force, metropolitan dignity is always united to an episcopal see determined or approved by the pontiff (can. 272). In his diocese the m. has the same rights and duties as any bishop (can. 273); in the dioceses of the suffragans he has only those enumerated in the CIC or expressly granted to him. In particular, with regard to administrative jurisdiction, the m. must convene the provincial council every 20 years and preside over it (cann. 283-84); he may supervise observance of the faith and ecclesiastical discipline throughout the province and inform the pontiff of abuses (can. 274 n. 4); he may institute candidates to benefices, presented by patrons, if the competent suffragan has failed to do so within the legal time limits without being prevented by a just reason (can. 274 n. 1); he may appoint the capitular vicar in suffragan dioceses if the competent cathedral Chapter has failed to do so within eight days of receiving notice of the vacancy of the episcopal see (cann. 274 n. 3 and 432 §§ 1 and 2); he may visit the suffragan dioceses, after the cause has been approved by the Holy See, if the suffragans themselves have neglected to do so and, during the visitation, he may preach, hear confessions, granting absolution even in cases reserved to the bishop, inquire into the life and uprightness of the clergy, denounce to the competent Ordinaries, so that they may punish them, clerics marked by infamy, and punish with just penalties, including censures, notorious crimes and offenses committed against him or persons in his entourage (can. 274 n. 5); finally, if a suffragan should incur excommunication, suspension, or interdict, the m. must immediately have recourse to the Holy See, so that it may take action (can. 429 § 5). With regard to judicial power, the m. has the court of second instance for all cases decided in the first instance by a suffragan (cann. 274 n. 7 and 1594 § 1), with the exception, in Italy and other countries, of matrimonial cases, which are reserved to regional tribunals even in the first instance; the m. also has the court of first instance for cases concerning the rights or temporal goods of the suffragan, his episcopal mensa, or his diocesan curia, if the suffragan himself does not prefer to entrust them to his own tribunal (cann. 274 n. 8 and 1572 § 2). The m. also enjoys certain prerogatives throughout his province: he may grant indulgences of 200 days (S. Penit. Ap. 20 July 1942); he takes precedence over the suffragans even in their dioceses; he may celebrate pontifical functions in all churches, including exempt churches, informing the Ordinary if the church is a cathedral; he may bless the people and proceed with the cross held aloft (can. 274 nn. 2 and 6).
Outside his province, the m. may exercise certain rights over bishops, prelates, and abbots nullus, immediately subject to the Holy See, who have chosen him, once and for all, to participate in their provincial council (can. 285).
The m. has the right to the pallium, insignia of archiepiscopal authority, and must request it from the Supreme Pontiff within three months of his consecration or promotion in consistory, if already consecrated (can. 275). Acts of metropolitan jurisdiction or episcopal order for which the liturgical laws prescribe the use of the pallium are illicit if performed before the pallium itself has been imposed (can. 276). Finally, with regard to precedence, the m., like other archbishops, follows primates and precedes bishops (can. 280).