Link to the relevant canonic law: http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19880628_pastor-bonus-roman-curia.html#TRIBUNALS (Art. 126 et seq.)
of higher instance at the fork
of every road that leads to Rome
or to Saint Peter’s and its dome.
It hears appeals and safeguards rights.
It helps the courts of lower heights
by virtue of its sentences.
It fosters law consensuses.
Judges of this Rotal court
form a college of the sort
over which presides a Dean
chosen by the Pope Supreme
for established term of office.
From among juristic pop’lace
Appointees of the pope are priests
Proved in doctrine, expertise.
In second instance, the Rota deals
with cases brought it by appeals
from the lower
courts which were
wholly unwilling to confer
a judgement which
would appease
both parties own selfish needs.
The court
adjudicates in first instance
contentious bishops, unless
there’s inference
that the bishop represents
a legal person with intents
to settle a question of earthly goods
or rights and duties,
misunderstood.
The Rota hears the
cases of
abbots primate and those above
monastic orders,
and moderators supreme
of religious institutes of papal regime. [1]
Its j’risdiction extends also[2]
To the persons subject to no
Boss below the
pontifex,
These in real and fiction sense;
To these, further
cases which
Sovereign Pontiff deigns commit.
All the types of
cases mentioned,
In the second and extended
Instances are
processed by
Roman Rota, Rotal Eye.
This oldest court
of Western law
Is governed by its own,
A law of special
application,
Made by Pope of Rome.
[1] I realize a pontifical institute of papal regime is not the same as pontifical institute of papal right. "Esteem" changed to "regime" 23 February 2019, 3:55pm.
