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8. (a) To bishops, as successors of the Apostles, in the
dioceses entrusted to them, there belongs per se all the ordinary,
proper, and immediate authority which is required for the exercise of
their pastoral office. But this never in any way infringes upon the
power which the Roman pontiff has, by virtue of his office, of
reserving cases to himself or to some other authority.
(b) The general law of the Church grants the faculty to each
diocesan bishop to dispense, in a particular case, the faithful over
whom they legally exercise authority as often as they judge that it
contributes to their spiritual welfare, except in those cases which
have been especially reserved by the supreme authority of the Church.
9. In exercising supreme, full, and immediate power in the
universal Church, the Roman pontiff makes use of the departments of
the Roman Curia which, therefore, perform their duties in his name
and with his authority for the good of the churches and in the service
of the sacred pastors.
The fathers of this sacred council, however, desire that these
departments-which have furnished distinguished assistance to the Roman
pontiff and the pastors of the Church-be reorganized and better
adapted to the needs of the times, regions, and rites especially as
regards their number, name, competence and peculiar method of'
procedure, as well as the coordination of work among them.[15] The
fathers also desire that, in view of the very nature of the pastoral
office proper to the bishops, the office of legates of the Roman
pontiff be more precisely determined.
10. Furthermore, since these departments are established for the
good of the universal Church, it is desirable that their members,
officials, and consultors as well as legates of the Roman pontiff be
more widely taken from various regions of the Church, insofar as it is
possible. In such a way the offices and central organs of the
Catholic Church will exhibit a truly universal character.
It is also desired that some bishops, too-especially diocesan
bishops-will be chosen as members of the departments, for they will be
able to report more fully to the supreme pontiff the thinking, the
desires, and the needs of all the churches.
Finally, the fathers of the council think it would be most
advantageous if these same departments would listen more attentively to
laymen who are outstanding for their virtue, knowledge, and
experience. In such a way they will have an appropriate share in
Church affairs.
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