VATICAN CITY, OCT 29, 2007 (VIS) - On Saturday, October 27, it was made public that the Holy Father:

- Gave his assent to the canonical election by the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Catholic Romanian Church of Fr. Mihai Catalin Fratila, rector of the "Pio Romeno" Pontifical College in Rome, as auxiliary bishop of the archieparchy of Fagaras and Alba Iulia of the Romanians (Catholics 367,000, priests 217, religious 166), Romania. The bishop-elect was born in Barman, Romania in 1970 and ordained a priest in 1996.

- Gave his assent to the canonical election by the Synod of Bishops of the Greek-Catholic Romanian Church of Fr. Vasile Bizau, professor of moral theology at the major seminary in the eparchy of Maramures, Romania, as bishop to the Major Archiepiscopal Curia. The bishop-elect was born in Maramures in 1969 and ordained a priest in 1997.

I thought that sui juris churches that are at least of Major Archepiscopal rank have the right to elect bishops in their home territories (Ukraine for the UGCC, Romania for the Romanian Greek Catholics) without need for the pope's approval.

I think the Pope just "rubber stamps" it to make it "official".

Even if a formality, it sets a bad precedent IMHO.

In the case of the Church of Kyiv-Halych, the Pope "gives his blessing" to the election, and everything proceeds.

Fr. Serge

Actually I think its more like a notification to the Pope of the election and a statement of being in communion. Which is what it was before the Schism.
Stephanos I
I think it is a good fraternal gesture.

I think it is a good gesture as well.

May the two baby bishops be blessed and be true shepherds for their flocks.

The language seems to imply the assent of the Pope is needed for the bishops to assume their office. If that's not the case, then my issues with this are unfounded.