174 Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale

Article 6

§ 1. Authority to address matters pertaining to the contents and meaning of Canon Law or to the internal organization of the Catholic Church or concerning the Heads of the Dioceses or other ecclesiastical cir- cumscriptions and the Heads of other Church Institutions directly depending on the Holy See is vested in the Papal Representative.

§ 2. The Papal Representative shall communicate to the competent offices of the State of Palestine the territorial boundaries of Dioceses and other ecclesiastical circumscriptions and shall likewise communicate to the State of Palestine the appointment and cessation from office of bishops and heads of other ecclesiastical circumscriptions or of other Church Institutions under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See.

§ 3. For the avoidance of doubt, a hierarchical relationship between two or more Church Institutions, among them or with the Holy See as hi- erarchical superior of any and all Church Institutions, cannot, due to the hierarchical relationship only, make any Church Institution liable for the actions or omissions of any other Church Institution. Without detracting from the above principle, the Holy See will continue to en- sure that Church Institutions act responsibly and dutifully at all times.

§ 4. Authority to address internal matters concerning the local Church and other ecclesiastical office holders, ministers of religion and all other personnel in the service of the Church's mission, is vested in the Heads of the Dioceses or other ecclesiastical circumscriptions and the Heads of other Church Institutions.

§ 5. The Heads of the Dioceses or other ecclesiastical circumscriptions shall communicate to the competent offices of the State of Palestine the territorial boundaries of the Parishes, and shall likewise commu- nicate to the State of Palestine the appointment and cessation from office of the Parish Priests and of the Heads of other Church Insti- tutions, as well as of other ecclesiastical office holders such as the members of the ecclesiastical courts, as well as any changes freely made in these matters by the competent ecclesiastical authorities.

Article 7

§ 1. The State of Palestine recognizes the legal personality of the Catholic Church and of all canonical legal persons deemed by the Canon Law of