Several Popes have commented on Canon LawPope Benedict XIV, Magnae Nobis, June 29, 1748, paragraph 9: The Roman Pontiff is above canon law, but any bishop is inferior to that law, and consequently can’t modify it.From Elements of Ecclesiastical Law, by Rev. S.B. Smith, D.D., 1893, volume 1, Page 9: Canon Law is so named because it is made up of rules of canon, which the Church proposes and establishes in order to direct the faithful to eternal happiness.Amleto Cicognani in Canon Law (1935) teaches: However, on account of the divine assistance which Christ promised His Church, no disciplinary law at variance with orthodox faith or good morals has ever been or ever will be issued by the Roman Pontiff for the universal Church. Therefore we can conclude that God protects the Church from laws which are positively bad. Cardinal Mannign is of a similar mindset. 
