Statistics on Motu Proprios 1978 - Present

[Apr. 16, 2023] A few days ago I saw an interesting tweet by Matthew Hazell noting that in 2023 alone Pope Francis has already issued 50% more motu proprios than Pope Benedict had throughout his entire pontificate.

The point got me wondering what subjects have occasioned motu proprios in recent history. I began reviewing the motu proprios of the last three popes, comparing not only how many but their purpose. The following are some statistics my cursory research revealed. 

I. Motu Proprios by Pope

A complete list of papal motu proprios for every pontiff is available on the Vatican website; I have also attached my own list at the bottom of this post. Based on these records, John Paul II issued 31 motu proprios, Benedict issued 13, and Francis has issued 60 to date. If we were to add these together (104 motu proprios) and divide them up by pontiff, the distribution of motu proprios issued from 1978 to the present would look like this, with Pope Francis issuing 58% of all motu proprios since 1978 and more than both his predecessors combined:

II. Average Motu Proprios Per Year

The absolute number of motu proprios by pope can only tell us so much, as the pontiffs all had/have pontificates of varying lengths. I therefore took the amount of each pope's motu proprios and divided by their pontificate (rounded to the nearest month) to see how many motu proprios each pope issued on average in a given year of his pontificate:

Clearly Pope Francis has much more frequent recourse to the motu proprio than either of his predecessors, outpacing John Paul II by 6:1 and Benedict by almost the same. Francis has not only issued more motu proprios; he issues them with greater frequency as well.

III. Longest Duration Without Issuing a Motu Proprio

Another interesting fact: The longest John Paul II went without issuing a motu proprio was 3 years, 8 months, and 8 days, the time elapsed between his establishing of the Labor Office of the Apostolic See on January 1, 1988 and his establishment of the Curial pension fund on September 8, 1992. The longest Benedict XVI went between motu proprios was 3 years, 5 months, and 23 days, between Summorum Pontificum on July 7, 2007 and Vatican City State's adoption of the EU's prescriptions against money laundering on December 30, 2010. The biggest gap between motu proprios for Francis thus far has only been 9 months and 16 days, between his annulment reform of the Latin and Oriental churches (August 15, 2015) and De concordia inter codices, another revision to the CIC issued on May 31, 2016:

IV. Motu Proprios by Subject by Pope

Categorizing what the popes issued motu proprios about was challenging. The subjects of pontifical motu proprios are exceedingly broad and are not easily categorized. After reviewing every motu proprio to understand its purpose, I was able to create seven broad classifications: Administration, Finances, Liturgy & Saints, Outside Groups, Sex Abuse, Canon Law, and Doctrine & Sacraments. They are very inclusive and require some explanation:

Administration

Administration pertains to the pope's governance of the Holy See, Vatican City State, the Roman Curia and all bodies under papal or curial jurisdiction. Examples of adminisrative motu proprios include (but are not limited to) the establishment of pontifical commissions, merging of congregations/dicasteries, tranferring jurisdiction from one entity to another, renaming a congregation, approving the statutes of a newlry erected pontifical commission, amending the govenment of Vatican City State, implementing E.U. legal norms within Vatican City, etc.

Finances

While finances are technically part of the administration of the Holy See, I chose to consider them separately due to the prevalence of Vatican financial scandals in recent times. Examples of financial motu proprios include (but are not limited to) regulations for Vatican pension plans, directives of transparency in Vatican financial dealings, rules governing the assigning of contracts, regulations of Vatican investment assets etc. (Two motu proprios that were adoptions of E.U. laws against illegal money laundering were categorized under administration, however, as they did not pertain to the actual assets of the Vatican but rather to the Vatican City State bringing its legal code into alignment with E.U. standards.)

Liturgy & Saints

The category of liturgy and saints encompasses all motu proprios with bearing on these two subjects, though I have used the phrase "liturgy and saints" broadly. The category not only includes liturgical motu proprios like Summorum pontificum and Traditiones custodes, but also legislation relating to how saints are canonized/who is eligible for sainthood, the institution of "Year of" themes to be preached throughout the Church Universal, and the assignment of patronal titles to specific saints (e.g., John Paul II's proclamation of St. Thomas More as the patron saint of politicians).

Outside Groups

This category pertains to the Holy See's interactions with other institutions. In the majority of motu proprios this means religious orders, but it also includes the Knights of Malta, Caritas International, and Opus Dei. 

Sex Abuse

Pertains to motu proprios relating to sex abuse reporting, investigation, and the protection of minors.

Canon Law

The canon law category encompasses all amendments to the Code of Canon Law by motu proprio, both of the Latin rite as well as the code for the Oriental churches. I also included here motu proprios relating to marriage nullity cases, as well as John Paul II's 1998 Apostolos Suos on the juridical authority of national episcopal conferences.

Doctrine & Sacraments

This category encompasses motu proprios dealing with matters relating to Catholic teaching and the celebration of the sacraments outside of the Mass. Such motu proprios are rare, as typically such matters are addressed through decrees by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith or the Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, not through papal motu proprio. Still, there were two instances in recent history where motu proprios were used for this purpose: Benedict XVI's promulgation of the Compendium of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church (2005) and John Paul II's 2002 Misericordia Dei (2002), a forceful reaffirmation of the norms for the administration of the sacrament of penance.

Overlap

Sometimes categories overlapped each other. For example, in 2019 Pope Francis issued a motu proprio amending the laws of Vatican City State with relation to the protection of minors. This could have been categorized as sex abuse related or administration, since it pertained to the government of Vatican City State. Or, John Paul's 1988 erection of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei could be considered administrative (as it entailed the creation of a new commission), or liturgy, as Ecclesia Dei existed for the sake of the liturgy. In such cases I made a prudential judgment based on what aspect seemed more primary. In the former case, I categorized Francis's decree under sex abuse; in the latter, the creation of Ecclesia Dei was put under administration.

Furthermore, no pontiff legislated in all seven categories; only Francis has issued motu proprios on sex abuse and outside groups, whereas only John Paul II and Benedict XVI issued motu proprios relating to docrtinal teaching or the celebration of sacraments outside of the Mass. John Paul II and Francis both issued motu proprios relating to Vatican finances, but Benedict XVI did not.

Now then, let us see what the Roman pontiffs have chosen to legislate about from 1978 to the present. First we will look at each pope individually beginning with Francis, then look at the motu proprios by subject of all three popes combined:

One thing to keep in mind when reviewing this information: Just because a pope did not issue a motu proprio on a given subject does not mean they were inactive on the question; it merely means they did not address the subject using a motu proprio. For example, though Pope Benedict issued no motu proprios on sex abuse, was extremely vigorous in combatting it, doing more than his predecessor or successor. So we must not assume that a pope has ignored an issue merely because he did not issue motu proprios on the matter; a motu proprio is only one of many ways a pope acts.

V. List of All Motu Proprios 1978 - Present by Pope, Subject, and Date

For reference, I have included this table I compiled of all motu proprios issued by each of the three popes. If the motu proprio had a name, it is included in italics; if the motu proprio was not named, I have listed it by its first words, according to custom. Also, in the interest of space, the descriptions of each motu proprio are extremely sparse. Those interested in learning more about a given document should consult Vatican.va, where all motu proprios are listed.

Motu Proprios of Pope Francis (Mar. 13, 2013-Present)

“In our times”	Re: Jurisdiction of Vatican City State	Jul. 11, 2013
“The promotion”	Adopt EU new rules against money laundering	Aug. 8, 2013
“By means”	On the Financial Intelligence Authority	Nov. 15, 2013
Fidelis dispensator et prudens	Re: Administration of Vatican City	Feb. 24, 2014
“Confirming”	Re: Administration of the Holy See	Jul. 8, 2014
Natura e competenza	Statutes of new economic entities	Feb. 22, 2015
“The current context”	Establishing Secretariat for Communication	Jun. 27, 2015
Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus	Annulment reform (Latin rite)	Aug. 15, 2015
Mitis et misericors Iesus	Annulment reform (Eastern churches)	Aug. 15, 2015
De concordia inter codices	Harmonize canons of Latin and Eastern codes	May 31, 2016
As a loving mother	Procedures for clerical sex abuse charges	Jun. 4, 2016
“The Dicastery”	Statutes for Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life	Jun. 4, 2016
I bene temporali	Further guidelines for Holy See finances	Jul. 4, 2016
“The Church, devoted mother”	Instituting Dicastery for Laity, Faily, and Life	Aug. 15, 2016
“The Dicastery for promoting”	Statutes for Dicastery of Integral Human Devp.	Aug. 17, 2016
“Secretariat of Communication”	Statutes for the Secretariat of Communication	Sept. 6, 2016
“The Pontifical Academy for Life”	Statutes for the Pontifical Academy for Life	Oct. 18, 2016
“The shrine”	Shrines given to Promotion of the New Evang.	Feb. 11, 2017
Maiorem hac dilectionem	“Offer of life” distinct from martyrdom	Jul. 11, 2017
Magnum principium	Altering Canon 838 on vernacular translations	Sept. 3, 2017
Summa familiae curae	Creating JP2 Institute for Matrimonial &Family Science	Sept. 8, 2017
“Learn to take your leave”	Concerning resignation of Papal Appointees	Feb. 12, 2018
“Legge sul governo”	Laws governing Vatican City State	Nov. 25, 2018
“For over 30 years”	Decommissioning Ecclesia Dei	Jan. 17, 2019
“L’Ufficio del Revisore Generale”	New statutes of the Vatican auditor general	Jan. 21, 2019
Communis Vita	Reforming canons for dismissal from religious life	Mar. 19, 2019
“The protection of minors”	Crimes against minors in Vatican City State	Mar. 26, 2019
Vos estis lux mundi	Reporting requirements for child sex abuse	May 7, 2019
Aperuit illis	Instituting Sunday of the Word of God	Sept. 30, 2019
L’esperienza storica	Changing name of the Vatican Secret Archives	Oct. 22, 2019
“Throughout the centuries”	Term for Dean of College of Cardinals 5 years	Dec. 21, 2019
“Amministrare”	Amending Vatican State judicial system	Mar. 16, 2020
“The diligence of”	How contracts in Vatican City get awarded	May 19, 2020
Authenticam charismatis	Amending canon 579 on Institutes of Cons.Life	Nov. 1, 2020
Ab initio	Amending canons 435 & 506 in Eastern Code	Nov. 21, 2020
“A better organization”	On management of investments of Holy See	Dec. 26, 2020
Spiritus Domini	Amending Can. 230 for women acolytes/lectors	Jan. 10, 2021
“Needs which have arisen”	Amending penal code of Vatican City State	Feb. 8, 2021
“An economically sustainable”	Containing expenditures for Vatican employees	Mar. 23, 2021
“Faithfulness in matters”	Transparency in Vatican finances	Apr. 26, 2021
“According to”	Amending jurisdiction of Vatican judicial bodies	Apr. 30, 2021
Antiquum ministerium	Instituting ministry of catechist	May 10, 2021
Traditiones custodes	Repealing Summorum pontificum	Jul. 16, 2021
“Since almost”	Applying Mitis Iudex in Italy	Nov. 17, 2021
Fidem servare	Restructuring the CDF	Feb. 11, 2022
Competentias quasdam	Amending various canons of East and West codes	Feb. 11, 2022
Recognitum Librum VI	Change Canon 695 on dismissal from clerical institutes	Apr. 26, 2022
Ad charisma tuendum	Confirming the prelature of Opus Dei in the "charismatic sphere" of the Church	Jul. 14, 2022
“The preceding chirograph”	Legal competency of the Dicastery for Evangelization	Aug. 1, 2022
“Sovereign Military”	Taking over the Knights of Malta	Sep. 3, 2022
“The Apostolic Constitution”	Competence of pastoral care of tourists	Sep. 30, 2022
“Caritas Internationalis”	Appointment to Caritas Internationalis	Nov. 21, 2022
“Chi è Fedele”	Regulating funds of the Curia	Dec. 5, 2022
“Having proceeded”	Reorganizing the Auxiliary Bishops of Rome	Jan. 6, 2023
“In implementation”	Regulation of Independent Supervisory Commission	Feb. 14, 2023
Il Diritto Nativo	Universal destination of Holy See’s funds	Feb. 20, 2023
“Vocare peccatores”	Reform of penal code of Oriental churches	Mar. 20, 2023
Vos estis lux mundi (II)	Adding vulnerable adult to norms on sex abuse	Mar. 25, 2023
“Expidit ut iura”	Concerning appeals of dismissed religious	Apr. 2, 2023
Le esigenze	Amending penal code of Vatican City State	Apr. 12, 2023

Motu Proprios of Benedict XVI (Apr. 19, 2005-Feb. 28, 2013)

“The ancient and venerable”	Clarifying adminitsration of St Paul Outside the Walls	May 31, 2005
“Twenty years ago”	Promulgating Compendium of the CCC	Jun. 8, 2005
De Aliquibus Mutationibus	Restoring pre-JPII norms for electing Pope	Jun. 11, 2007
Summorum Pontificum	Freeing of the Traditional Latin Mass	Jul. 7, 2007
“The Apostolic See”	Vatican adopts EU anti-money laundering rules	Dec. 30, 2010
Quaerit Semper	Amending organization of the Curia	Aug. 30, 2011
Porta Fidei	Proclaiming the Year of Faith	Oct. 11, 2011
Data Pulchritudinis Fidei	Merging two pontifical commissions	Jul. 30, 2012
Latina Lingua	Establishing Pontifical Academy for Latin	Nov. 10, 2012
Intima ecclesiae natura	Gives legal structure to Catholic charitable organizations	Nov. 11, 2012
Ministrorum Institutio	Transfers jurisdiction of seminaries	Jan. 16, 2013
Fides per Doctrinam	Transfers jurisdiction of catechesis	Jan. 16, 2013
Normas Nonnullas	Amending norms for electing the pope	Feb. 22, 2013

Motu Proprios of John Paul II (Oct. 16, 1978-Apr. 2, 2005)

“Considering that the popes”	Creates Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center	Dec. 13, 1978
Familia a deo instituta	Establishes Pontifical Council for the Family	May 9, 1981
Beata Hedvigis	Establishes Pontifical Theological Academy of Cracow	Dec. 8, 1981
Tredecim Anni	Establishes statutes of the Internatl Theological Commission	Aug. 6, 1982
Qui res Christi gerit	Memorial of Fra Angelico for Dominicans	Oct. 3, 1982
Recognito Iuris Canonici Codice	Est. Commission for Interpret. of Canon Law	Jan. 2, 1984
Dolentium Hominum	Est. Commission for Apostolate of Health Care	Feb. 11, 1985
Quo Civium Iura	Amending judiciary of Vatican City State	Jan. 2, 1984
Sollicita Cura	Reorganizing marriage Tribunals in Italy	Dec. 26. 1987
Decessores Nostri	Reorganizing Pont. Comm. For Latin America	Jun. 18, 1988
Iusti Iudicis	On Advocates of the Roman Court	Jun. 28, 1988
Ecclesia Dei	Creating Pont. Comm. Ecclesia Dei	Jul. 22, 1988
“On the first anniversary”	Est. Labor Office of the Apostolic See	Jan. 1, 1989
“The Concern”	Establishing pension fund for Curial employees	Sept. 8, 1992
Europae Orientalis	Est. Comm. for the Church in Eastern Europe	Jan. 15, 1993
Inde a Pontificatus	Merging two pontifical councils	Mar. 25, 1993
Socialium Scientarium	Est. Pont. Academy of Social Sciences	Jan. 1, 1994
Vitae Mysterium	Est. Pont. Academy for Life	Feb. 11, 1994
“The Solicitude”	Est. statutes of Labor Office of the Apostolic See	Sept. 30, 1994
Stella Maris	Updating norms for the Maritime Apostolate	Jan. 31, 1997
Ad Tuendam Fidem	Amending codes of Canon Law, East & West	May 18, 1998
Apostolos Suos	On juridical competence of Episc. Conferences	May 21, 1998
Sacra Liturgia	On statutes of Chapter of some Roman churches	May 23, 1999
Spes Aedificandi	Proclaiming three co-patronesses of Europe	Oct. 1, 1999
Nuntiature apostolicae	Amending  the Tribunal of of Apostolic Correspondence in Spain	Oct. 2, 1999
E Sancti Thomae Mori	Makes Thomas More patron of politicians	Oct. 31, 2000
“The new basic law”	New constitution for Vatican City State	Nov. 26, 2000
Sacramentorum sanctitatis	Norms for sacramental delicts reserved to CDF	Apr. 30, 2001
Misericordia Dei	Reaffirming laws regarding sacrament of penance	Apr. 7, 2002
Adnexa	New regulation for Vatican pension plan	Dec. 15, 2003
“Continuing the precious work”	Giving Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center to Legionaries of Christ	Nov. 26, 2004

VI. Conclusion

It is my hope that these statistics will help others to better understand how the popes have used the motu proprio in their governance of the Church, as well as how the popes varied among themselves in terms of their priorities reflected in these documents. I do not feel competent to comment beyond what I have already written, but, Lord willing, someone who is better than I at interpreting the data will elaborate on this study. 

UPDATE: The very next day after this was published, Francis issued another motu proprio, Iam Pridem, on April 15, 2023.

+Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam+