ACTA APOSTOLICAE SEDIS - La Santa Sede

Acta Benedicti Pp.XVI 699
and their equivalents, such as Territorial Prelatures, Apostolic Vicariates,
Military Ordinariates, etc.) throughout the world, is not like that of a modern
State with a central government nor is it comparable to that of a federal
State.
In the Church, the Bishops are neither representatives nor delegates of
the Roman Pontiff but of Christ (cfr. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic
Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, No. 27), though, as Catholic
Bishops, they are to act in communion with the Bishop of Rome and the
other Bishops throughout the world; this is the principle of “episcopal
collegiality”, as described by the Second Vatican Council (cfr. ibid, Nos.
21-25). Hence, while the diocesan Bishop is to act in conformity with
universal canonical legislation, it is he who is primarily responsible for
penal discipline in his Diocese, just as he is responsible for the concrete
actuation in his Diocese of the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church
in conformity with the universal law governing liturgy and the sacraments
(cfr. ibid. No. 27).
In the Catholic Church, this particular relationship among the various
Dioceses within the one Church is expressed by the term “ecclesial communion”
and it has been particularly evident since the Second Vatican Council,
which placed special emphasis on the proper responsibility of each Bishop. In
order to coordinate better their activities at the national level, Episcopal
Conferences were created to promote initiatives consonant with the needs
of each national territory, while respecting the autonomy of individual
Bishops in their Dioceses. Without having to refer either to the Holy See
or to the Episcopal Conference, and provided he respects the requirements of
the universal law of the Church and the just laws of the State, each individual
Bishop has the right and the obligation to take whatever initiative he deems
necessary in order to promote charity and justice in his Diocese.
In this context, with due respect for the prerogatives and responsibilities
of individual Bishops, the Holy See has the responsibility of ensuring the
unity of faith, sacraments and governance in the Church, and the maintaining
and strengthening of ecclesial communion. Where this unity and ecclesial
communion are compromised, the Roman Pontiff may act directly or
through the offices of the Roman Curia to rectify matters.