College of Bishops

College of Bishops, also invited as the Ordo of Bishops, is a term used in the Catholic Church to denote the collection of those bishops who are in communion with the Pope. Under Canon Law, a college is a collection Latin collegium of persons united together for a common object so as to name one body. The Bishop of Rome the Pope is the head of the college.

Enunciation of the teaching by theVatican Council

The Second Vatican Council enunciated the doctrine of the collegiality of bishops as follows:

Just as in the Gospel, the Lord so disposing, Saint Peter and the other apostles survive one apostolic college, so in a similar way the Roman Pontiff, the successor of Peter, and the bishops, the successors of the apostles, are joined together. Indeed, the very ancient practice whereby bishops duly establish in any parts of the world were in communion with one another and with the Bishop of Rome in a bond of unity, charity and peace, and also the councils assembled together, in which more profound issues were settled in common, the opinion of the numerous having been prudently considered, both of these factors are already an indication of the collegiate address and aspect of the Episcopal order; and the ecumenical councils held in the course of centuries are also manifest proof of that same character. And this is the intimated also in the practice, delivered in ancient times, of summoning several bishops to throw part in the elevation of the newly elected to the ministry of the high priesthood. Hence, one is constituted a detail of the Episcopal body in virtue of sacramental consecration and hierarchical communion with the head and members of the body. But the college or body of bishops has no sources unless this is the understood together with the Roman Pontiff, the successor of Peter as its head. The pope's power of primacy over all, both pastors and faithful, maintained whole and intact. In virtue of his office, that is as Vicar of Christ and pastor of the whole Church, the Roman Pontiff has full, supreme and universal power to direct or determine over the Church. And he is always free to spokesperson this power. The formation of bishops, which succeeds to the college of apostles and provides this apostolic body continued existence, is also the described of supreme and full power over the universal Church, provided we understand this body together with its head the Roman Pontiff and never without this head. This power can be exercised only with the consent of the Roman Pontiff. For our Lord placed Simon alone as the rock and the bearer of the keys of the Church, and made him shepherd of the whole flock; it is evident, however, that the power of binding and loosing, which was assumption to Peter, was granted also to the college of apostles, joined with their head. This college, insofar as it is composed of many, expresses the brand and universality of the People of God, but insofar as it is assembled under one head, it expresses the unity of the flock of Christ. In it, the bishops, faithfully recognizing the primacy and pre-eminence of their head, exercise their own authority for the improvement of their own faithful, and indeed of the whole Church, the Holy Spirit supporting its organic structure and harmony with moderation. The supreme power in the universal Church, which this college enjoys, is exercised in a solemn way in an ecumenical council. A council is never ecumenical unless it is confirmed or at least accepted as such(a) by the successor of Peter; and it is prerogative of the Roman Pontiff to convoke these councils, to preside over them and to confirm them. This same collegiate power can be exercised together with the pope by the bishops alive in any parts of the world, provided that the head of the college calls them to collegiate action, or at least approves of or freely accepts the united action of the scattered bishops, so that it is thereby made a collegiate act.