Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 699

and their equivalents, such as Territorial Prelatures, Apostolic Vicariates,

Military Ordinariates, etc.) throughout the world, is not like that of a modern

State with a central government nor is it comparable to that of a federal

State.

In the Church, the Bishops are neither representatives nor delegates of

the Roman Pontiff but of Christ (cfr. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic

Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, No. 27), though, as Catholic

Bishops, they are to act in communion with the Bishop of Rome and the

other Bishops throughout the world; this is the principle of "episcopal

collegiality", as described by the Second Vatican Council (cfr. ibid, Nos.

21-25). Hence, while the diocesan Bishop is to act in conformity with

universal canonical legislation, it is he who is primarily responsible for

penal discipline in his Diocese, just as he is responsible for the concrete

actuation in his Diocese of the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church

in conformity with the universal law governing liturgy and the sacraments

(cfr. ibid. No. 27).

In the Catholic Church, this particular relationship among the various

Dioceses within the one Church is expressed by the term "ecclesial commu-

nion" and it has been particularly evident since the Second Vatican Council,

which placed special emphasis on the proper responsibility of each Bishop. In

order to coordinate better their activities at the national level, Episcopal

Conferences were created to promote initiatives consonant with the needs

of each national territory, while respecting the autonomy of individual

Bishops in their Dioceses. Without having to refer either to the Holy See

or to the Episcopal Conference, and provided he respects the requirements of

the universal law of the Church and the just laws of the State, each individual

Bishop has the right and the obligation to take whatever initiative he deems

necessary in order to promote charity and justice in his Diocese.

In this context, with due respect for the prerogatives and responsibilities

of individual Bishops, the Holy See has the responsibility of ensuring the

unity of faith, sacraments and governance in the Church, and the maintain-

ing and strengthening of ecclesial communion. Where this unity and ecclesial

communion are compromised, the Roman Pontiff may act directly or

through the offices of the Roman Curia to rectify matters.