PRECONIZATION. - It is the proclamation of the elevation of an ecclesiastic to episcopal or cardinalatial dignity. It is carried out after an informative process, required by the Congregazione concistoriale (v. VESCOVO).
In the past, preconization took place in the first consistory held after the vacancy of the episcopal see, upon the proposal of a cardinal; a distinct formula was used for episcopal dignity and for cardinalatial dignity, and was addressed to the supreme pontiff: after the programmatic formula, a brief reference was made to the condition of the church and to the qualities of the candidate for promotion; all these formalities took the place of election. In the second consistory the appointment was restated with the juridical value of confirmation: the promoting cardinal, by means of a special formula, transmitted the proclamation to the cardinal vice-chancellor.
At present, since consistories are very rare, preconization is made by a pontifical brief.