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4. By virtue of sacramental consecration and hierarchical communion
with the head and members of the college, bishops are constituted as
members of the episcopal body.[8] "The order of bishops is the
successor to the college of the apostles in teaching and pastoral
direction, or rather, in the episcopal order, the apostolic body
continues without a break. Together with its head, the Roman
pontiff, and never without this head it exists as the subject of
supreme, plenary power over the universal Church. But this power
cannot be exercised except with the agreement of the Roman
pontiff."[9] This power however, "is exercised in a solemn
manner in an ecumenical council."[10] Therefore, this sacred synod
decrees that all bishops who are members of the episcopal college, have
the right to be present at an ecumenical council.
"The exercise of this collegiate power in union with the pope is
possible although the bishops are stationed all over the world,
provided that the head of the college gives them a call to collegiate
action, or, at least, gives the unified action of the dispersed
bishops such approval, or such unconstrained acceptance, that it
becomes truly collegiate action."[11]
5. Bishops chosen from various parts of the world, in ways and
manners established or to be established by the Roman pontiff, render
more effective assistance to the supreme pastor of the Church in a
deliberative body which will be called by the proper name of Synod of
Bishops.[12] Since it shall be acting in the name of the entire
Catholic episcopate, it will at the same time show that all the
bishops in hierarchical communion partake of the solicitude for the
universal Church.[13]
6. As legitimate successors of the Apostles and members of the
episcopal college, bishops should realize that they are bound together
and should manifest a concern for all the churches. For by divine
institution and the rule of the apostolic office each one together with
all the other bishops is responsible for the Church.[14] They
should especially be concerned about those parts of the world where the
word of God has not yet been proclaimed or where the faithful,
particularly because of the small number of priests, are in danger of
departing from the precepts of the Christian life, and even of losing
the faith itself.
Let bishops, therefore, make every effort to have the faithful
actively support and promote works of evangelization and the
apostolate. Let them strive, moreover, to see to it that suitable
sacred ministers as well as auxiliaries, both religious and lay, be
prepared for the missions and other areas suffering from a lack of
clergy. They should also see to it, as much as possible, that some
of their own priests go to the above-mentioned missions or dioceses to
exercise the sacred ministry there either permanently or for a set
period of time.
Bishops should also be mindful, in administering ecclesiastical
property, of the needs not only of their own dioceses but also of the
other particular churches, for they are also a part of the one Church
of Christ. Finally, they should direct their attention, according
to their means, to the relief of disasters by which other dioceses and
regions are affected.
7. Let them especially embrace in brotherly affection those bishops
who, for the sake of Christ, are plagued with slander and indigence,
detained in prisons, or held back from their ministry. They should
take an active brotherly interest in them so that their sufferings may
be assuaged and alleviated through the prayers and good works of their
confreres.
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