II.
Bishops and the Apostolic See
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.8
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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