Canon 872. In so far as possible, a person being baptised is to be assigned a sponsor. In the case of an adult baptism, the sponsor’s role is to assist the person in christian initiation. In the case of an infant baptism, the role is together with the parents to present the child for baptism, and to help it to live a christian life befitting the baptised and faithfully to fulfil the duties inherent in baptism.

Baptizando, quantum fieri potest, detur patrinus, cuius est baptizando adulto in initiatione christiana adstare, et baptizandum infantem una cum parentibus ad baptismum praesentare itemque operam dare ut baptizatus vitam christianam baptismo congruam ducat obligationesque eidem inhaerentes fideliter adimpleat.

Canon 873. One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex.

Patrinus unus tantum vel matrina una vel etiam unus et una assumantur.

Canon 874. §1 To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:

1° be appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it;

2° be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made;

3° be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken;

4° not labour under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared;

5° not be either the father or the mother of the person to be baptised.

§2 A baptised person who belongs to a non-catholic ecclesial community may be admitted only in company with a catholic sponsor, and then simply as a witness to the baptism.

§1. Ut quis ad munus patrini suscipiendum admittatur, oportet:

1° ab ipso baptizando eiusve parentibus aut ab eo qui eorum locum tenet aut, his deficientibus, a parocho vel ministro sit designatus atque aptitudinem et intentionem habeat hoc munus gerendi;

2° decimum sextum aetatis annum expleverit, nisi alia aetas ab Episcopo dioecesano statuta fuerit vel exceptio iusta de causa parocho aut ministro admittenda videatur;

3° sit catholicus, confirmatus et sanctissimum Eucharistiae sacramentum iam receperit, idemque vitam ducat fidei et muneri suscipiendo congruam;

4° nulla poena canonica legitime irrogata vel declarata sit innodatus;

5° non sit pater aut mater baptizandi.

§2. Baptizatus ad communitatem ecclesialem non catholicam pertinens, nonnisi una cum patrino catholico, et quidem ut testis tantum baptismi, admittatur.