ARTICLE 2:
THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS
Can.
336 The head of the College of Bishops is the Supreme Pontiff, and its members
are the Bishops by virtue of their sacramental consecration and hierarchical
communion with the head of the College and its members. This College of
Bishops, in which the apostolic body abides in an unbroken manner, is, in union
with its head and never without this head, also the subject of supreme and full
power over the universal Church.
Can.
337 §1 The College of Bishops exercises its power over the universal Church in
solemn form in an Ecumenical Council.
§2 It
exercises this same power by the united action of the Bishops dispersed
throughout the world, when this action is as such proclaimed or freely accepted
by the Roman Pontiff, so that it becomes a truly collegial act.
§3 It
belongs to the Roman Pontiff to select and promote, according to the needs of
the Church, ways in which the College of Bishops can exercise its office in
respect of the universal Church in a collegial manner.
Can.
338 §1 It is the prerogative of the Roman Pontiff alone to summon an Ecumenical
Council, to preside over it personally or through others, to transfer, suspend
or dissolve the Council, and to approve its decrees.
§2 It is
also the prerogative of the Roman Pontiff to determine the matters to be dealt
with in the Council, and to establish the order to be observed. The Fathers of
the Council may add other matters to those proposed by the Roman Pontiff, but
these must be approved by the Roman Pontiff .
Can.
339 §1 All Bishops, but only Bishops who are members of the College of Bishops,
have the right and the obligation to be present at an Ecumenical Council with a
deliberative vote.
§2 Some
others besides, who do not have the episcopal dignity, can be summoned to an
Ecumenical Council by the supreme authority in the Church, to whom it belongs
to determine what part they take in the Council.
Can.
340 If the Apostolic See should become vacant during the celebration of the
Council, it is by virtue of the law itself suspended until the new Supreme
Pontiff either orders it to continue or dissolves it.
Can.
341 §1 The decrees of an Ecumenical Council do not oblige unless they are
approved by the Roman Pontiff as well as by the Fathers of the Council,
confirmed by the Roman Pontiff and promulgated by his direction.
§2 If they
are to have binding force, the same confirmation and promulgation is required
for decrees which the College of Bishops issues by truly collegial actions in
another manner introduced or freely accepted by the Roman Pontiff.
|