Canon Law under the Test of the Pandemic. Critical Issues and Opportunities

In light of the decrees of the President of the Council of Ministers to address and contain the spread of Covid-19, the Catholic Church in Italy has cooperated with civil authorities to prevent ecclesial gathering activities that could increase the risk of transmission of the infection. The article aims to carry out an exploration and evaluation of the different measures adopted by the ecclesiastical authorities – Holy See, Italian Episcopal Conference, regional Episcopal Conferences, diocesan Bishops – in light of the intrinsic elasticity of the ius Ecclesiae, structurally capable of designing adequate solutions to avoid crowds of people, also ensuring full freedom in the exercise of the saving mission of the Church, which is expressed above all in the liturgy and the sacraments.