The Bishop

The bishop is a successor of the apostles, who has received the fullness of the sacrament of Orders. Placed at the head of a local Church, he teaches the faith there, sanctifies through the sacraments and leads the people of God, in communion with the pope and the other bishops.

Successor of the apostles

The apostles established successors to continue their mission after them. By the laying on of hands, they handed on to others the charge received from Christ, and these to others still, in an unbroken chain down to the bishops of today. Saint Paul reminds Timothy of this gift received through that gesture: “Rekindle the gift of God that you received through the laying on of my hands.” 2 Timothy 1:6 The Greek word rendered as “bishop”, episkopos (ἐπίσκοπος), means the one who watches over, the guardian; and it is the Holy Spirit who establishes him to guard the flock. “Keep watch over all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to shepherd the Church of God.” Acts 20:28

The fullness of the priesthood

The bishop possesses the sacrament of Orders whole and entire, in its fullness. From this come the two powers proper to him: he alone ordains, making other men deacons, priests and bishops, and he is the foremost minister of confirmation, which he gives himself or entrusts to his priests. The priests and deacons of his Church hold their ministry from him; they share in his priesthood and serve under his charge. Thus the apostle left to his envoy the task of establishing ministers in every town: “Appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” Titus 1:5

Shepherd of a Church

Each bishop is placed at the head of a local Church, the diocese, of which he is the shepherd and the visible centre of unity. There he exercises the threefold charge received from the apostles: he teaches the faith as guardian of the deposit entrusted to him, he sanctifies his people through the sacraments and presides at the Eucharist from which his Church lives, and he governs her as shepherd. “Guard the good deposit, by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” 2 Timothy 1:14 Around him gather his priests, his deacons and the people entrusted to him; where the bishop is, there is the Church.

The college of bishops

Christ formed his apostles into a single group, the college of the apostles: he chose the Twelve and sent them out together, with Peter at their head. The bishops continue this college. Taken all together, they form in their turn one single body, the college of bishops, or episcopal college, whose head is the pope, as Peter was at the head of the Twelve. Each bishop is such in communion with the pope and with his brothers in the episcopate, united with them in one same faith; and this union keeps the Church one. It is seen from the first age of the Church: gathered around Peter, the apostles decided together, at Jerusalem, the first questions of the faith. “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us...” Acts 15:28 What they did then, the bishops continue, guardians together of the deposit received.