In carrying out their apostolic mission, Bishops must bear witness to Christ before the people of their Dioceses and those outside the Church

At the General Audience of Wednesday, 8 October, the Holy Father resumed his weekly catechesis on the mystery of the Church. In the 41st talk of the series he spoke on the mission which is entrusted to every Bishop. The following is a translation of the Pope's address, which was given in Italian.

1. As successors of the Apostles, Bishops are called to share in the mission which Jesus Christ himself entrusted to the Twelve and the Church. The Second Vatican Council reminds us of this: "The Bishops, inasmuch as they are the successors of the Apostles, receive from the 'Lord, to whom all power is given in heaven and on earth, the mission of teaching all peoples, and of preaching the Gospel to every creature, so that all men may obtain salvation through faith, Baptism and the observance of the commandments" (Lumen gentium, n.24).

According to the Council's text, this mission is one which the Bishops "receive from the Lord" and which has the same scope as that of the Apostles. It is the responsibility of the Episcopal "College" as a whole, as we saw in the previous catechesis. We must add, however, that the Apostles' inheritance—as mission and as sacred power—is handed on to each individual Bishop within the context of the Episcopal College. We want to explain this reality in today's catechesis, especially by turning to texts of the Council. They offer the most authoritative and competent lessons on this topic.

2. The mission of individual Bishops is fulfilled within a strictly defined sphere. In fact, we read in the conciliar text: "Individual Bishops, in so far as they are set over particular Churches, exercise their pastoral office over the portion of the People of God assigned to them, not over other Churches nor the Church universal" (Lumen gentium, n. 23). This matter is regulated by the "canonical mission" conferred on every Bishop (Lumen gentium, n. 24).

Universal Church present in each Diocese

In every case the involvement of the supreme authority guarantees that the assignment of the canonical mission is done not only for the benefit of the local community, but for the welfare of the whole Church, in relation to the universal mission common to the Episcopate in union with the Supreme Pontiff. This is a fundamental element of the "Petrine ministry".

3. The majority of Bishops exercise their pastoral mission in Dioceses. What is a Diocese? The Council's Decree on Bishops Christus Dominus answered this question in the following way: "A Diocese is a portion of the People of God entrusted to a Bishop to be guided by him with the assistance of his clergy so that, loyal to its Pastor and formed by him into one community in the Holy Spirit through the Gospel and the Eucharist, it constitutes one particular Church in which the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church of Christ is truly present and active" (Christus Dominus, n. 11).

According to the Council, then, each particular Church lives the life of the universal Church, which is the fundamental reality of the Church. And the latter is the most important and distinctive hallmark of the Diocese, which is part of the universal Church, not only as a portion of the People of God, usually determined territorially, but also as one having particular features and characteristics that deserve respect and esteem. In some cases these values are very significant and widespread among individual peoples and even in the universal Church, as history attests. We can also say, however, that always and everywhere the variety of Dioceses adds to the Church's spiritual wealth and to the fulfilment of her pastoral mission.

4. We read again in the Council: "Individual Bishops to whom the care of particular Dioceses is committed care for their flocks under the authority of the Supreme Pontiff, in the name of the Lord, as their proper, ordinary and immediate Pastors, sanctifying and governing them" (Christus Dominus, n. 11). Bishops' jurisdiction over the flocks entrusted to them is thus "proper, ordinary and immediate". Nevertheless, the Church's good order and unity require that this authority be exercised in strict communion with the authority of the Supreme Pontiff. For the same reasons Bishops "should recognize the rights which are conferred by law on Patriarchs or other hierarchical authorities" (Christus Dominus, n. 11), according to the historical development of the Church's structure in various places. As the Council points out, however, what really matters and is most decisive is that the Bishops exercise their pastoral mission "in the name of Lord".

5. Seen in this light, the mission of Bishops is presented in its institutional, spiritual and pastoral value in relation to the various conditions and states of the people entrusted to them, as follows: "Bishops", the Council states, "should devote themselves to their apostolic office as witnesses of Christ to all men. They should not limit themselves to those who already acknowledge the Prince of Pastors but should also devote their energies wholeheartedly to those who have strayed in any way from the path of truth or who have no knowledge of the Gospel of Christ and of his saving mercy, so that ultimately all men may walk 'in all goodness, justice and truth' (Eph 5:9)" (Christus Dominus, n. 11).

Bishops, therefore, are called to imitate the "Son of Man", who "came to seek and to save what was lost" (Lk 19: 10), as Jesus said during his visit to Zacchaeus' house. It is the very essence of their missionary vocation.

Bishops must be independent of civil authority

6. The Council continues in the same vein: "Special concern should be shown for those members of the faithful who, on account of their way of life are not adequately cared for by the ordinary pastoral ministry of the parochial clergy or are entirely deprived of it. These include the many migrants, exiles and refugees, sailors and airmen, itinerants and others of this kind. Suitable pastoral methods should be developed to provide for the spiritual life of people on holidays" (Christus Dominus, n. 18). All these groups and social strata, particularly individuals belonging to old and new forms of societal life, belong to the pastoral mission of Bishops, within or beyond the fixed structures of their Dioceses, just as they are included in the Church's universal embrace.

7. In fulfilling their mission, Bishops find that they must face social structures and the powers that control them. In this area they are committed to acting according to the Gospel norms of freedom and love that the Apostles themselves followed. What Peter and John said before the Sanhedrin is valid in every case "Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19). These words clearly formulate the principle of action for the Church's Pastors in relation to various earthly authorities and it is valid for all ages.

On this matter the Council teaches: "In the exercise of their apostolic function, which is directed towards the salvation of souls, Bishops rightfully enjoy full and perfect freedom and independence from all civil authority. It is, therefore, unlawful to obstruct them directly or indirectly in the exercise of their ecclesiastical office or to prevent them from communicating freely with the Apostolic See and other ecclesiastical authorities or with their subjects.

"In fact, the sacred Pastors in devoting themselves to the spiritual care of their flock are in fact promoting social and civil progress and prosperity. With this end in view they cooperate actively with the public authorities in a manner consonant with their office and fitting for Bishops, enjoining obedience to just laws and prescribing reverence for legitimately constituted authority" (Christus Dominus, n. 19).

8. In speaking of Bishops' mission and responsibilities, the Council also discussed the question of Bishops who have been appointed as Auxiliaries of the diocesan Bishop, because the latter "is unable personally to perform his duty sufficiently well for the good of souls, either because of the great size of the Diocese the number of inhabitants, some special pastoral problem, or for some other reasons. Sometimes indeed special circumstances may require that a Coadjutor Bishop be appointed to assist the diocesan Bishop" (Christus Dominus, n. 25). As a rule, the Coadjutor Bishop is appointed with the right to succeed the diocesan Bishop in office. But over and above canonical distinctions stands the principle to which the conciliar text refers: the "good of souls". Everything must always be arranged and done in accord with that "supreme law" which is "the salvation of souls".

9. The following conciliar laws can also be explained in relation to this good: "As the needs of the apostolate make joint control and promotion of certain pastoral activities increasingly necessary, it is desirable that some offices be established for the service of all or several Dioceses in a particular region or nation, and these may be entrusted to a Bishop" (Christus Dominus, n. 42). Anyone who observes the Church's pastoral and structural situation today in the various countries of the world can easily see that these laws have been implemented in the many offices created by Bishops or by the Holy See itself before and after the Council, particularly for missionary, charitable and cultural activities. A typical, well-known example is the spiritual care of military personnel, for which the Council provided for the establishment of special Ordinaries, according to the Holy See's long-standing practice: "The spiritual welfare of military personnel, on account of the special nature of their life, should be the object of particular solicitude. A special military vicariate should therefore, if possible, be established in every country" (Christus Dominus, n. 43).

Unity and cooperation among Bishops essential

10. In these new areas of activity, which are often complex and difficult, as well as in the ordinary fulfilment of the pastoral mission in the individual Dioceses entrusted to them, Bishops need unity and cooperation with each other in a spirit of fraternal charity and apostolic solidarity as members of the Episcopal College in the concrete fulfilment of their great and small tasks every day. The Council also said in this regard: "It is often impossible, nowadays especially, for Bishops to exercise their office suitably and fruitfully unless they establish closer understanding and cooperation with other Bishops" (Christus Dominus, n. 37).

Obviously, unity and cooperation are always recommended as the keystone of pastoral work. This is a principle of ecclesiology to which we must be ever more faithful, if we want to "build up the Body of Christ", as St Paul wanted (cf. Eph 4:12; Col 2:19; 1 Cor 12:12ff.; Rom 12:4-5; etc.), and, together with him, every other genuine Pastor of the Church over the centuries.