Editing Christus Dominus

{{Short description|Catholic Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2017}}
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'''{{Lang|la|Christus Dominus}}''' (''Christ the Lord''; abbreviation "CD") is the [[Second Vatican Council|Second Vatican Council's]] "Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops". 

The document was approved by a majority vote of 2,319 to 2<ref>Sessio Publica VII, 28 Octobris 1965, Approbatio et proclamatio
decretorum Concilii, in ''ASSCOV'' II, IV/V, 673. cited in {{cite journal |last1=Eusebio |first1=Enrico C. |title=The Evolution of Christus Dominus and of its Teaching on the Catechetical Duty of Bishops |journal=Landas: Journal of Loyola School of Theology |date=2009 |volume=23 |issue=2 |page=49 |url=https://journals.ateneo.edu/index.php/landas/article/viewFile/40/185 |access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> of the assembled [[bishop]]s and was promulgated by [[Pope Paul VI]] on 28 October 1965.<ref name="BerkleyCenter">{{Cite web|url=https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/publications/christus-dominus|title=Christus Dominus|website=berkleycenter.georgetown.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924140112/https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/publications/christus-dominus|archive-date=2017-09-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>  {{Lang|la|Christus Dominus}} calls for strong [[episcopal conference]]s of bishops, to set the standard for the church in their region, while fully supporting the [[Holy See|Vatican and the Pope]].<ref name="BerkleyCenter" />

CD describes how bishops exercise their office at three levels: in the universal church (chapter one), in their own "particular church" or diocese (chapter two), and at the regional or national level (chapter three).<ref name="P. 2007">{{Cite book|title=A concise guide to the documents of Vatican II|last=P.|first=Hahnenberg, Edward|date=2007|publisher=St. Anthony Messenger Press|isbn=9780867165524|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|oclc=76786665}}</ref>

==Background==
The [[First Vatican Council]] of 1869–1870 focused on the pope and defined the doctrine of "papal infallibility" but did not discuss other bishops. Thus, when [[Pope John XXIII]] called for a [[Second Vatican Council]], everyone expected it to take up this unfinished business.<ref name="P. 2007"/>

==Apostolic College==
The role of the bishops of the church was brought into renewed prominence, especially when seen collectively, as a college that has succeeded to that of the [[twelve apostles|apostles]] in teaching and governing the church. This college does not exist without its head, the successor of St. Peter.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/v3.html |title=LUMEN GENTIUM |access-date=2009-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923203130/http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/v3.html |archive-date=2015-09-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<blockquote>In these days especially bishops frequently are unable to fulfill their office effectively and fruitfully unless they develop a common effort involving constant growth in harmony and closeness of ties with other bishops. Episcopal conferences already established in many nations-have furnished outstanding proofs of a more fruitful apostolate. Therefore, this sacred synod considers it to be supremely fitting that everywhere bishops belonging to the same nation or region form an association which would meet at fixed times. Thus, when the insights of prudence and experience have been shared and views exchanged, there will emerge a holy union of energies in the service of the common good of the churches. (''CD'' 37)</blockquote>

==Preliminary note==
Accordingly, claims made by some, that the council gave the church two separate earthly heads, the College of Bishops and the Pope, were countered by the ''Preliminary Explanatory Note'' added to the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church ''Lumen Gentium'' and printed at the end of the text.

This Note states:
<blockquote>There is no such thing as the college without its head ... and in the college the head preserves intact his function as Vicar of Christ and pastor of the universal Church. In other words it is not a distinction between the Roman Pontiff and the bishops taken together, but between the Roman Pontiff by himself and the Roman Pontiff along with the bishops.</blockquote>

==See also==
* [[Appointment of Catholic bishops]]
* [[Hierarchy of the Catholic Church]]
* [[Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651028_christus-dominus_fr.html Text on the Vatican website]
{{Second Vatican Council}}

[[Category:Decrees]]
[[Category:Documents of the Second Vatican Council]]
[[Category:Episcopacy in the Catholic Church]]
[[Category:Texts in Latin]]
[[Category:1965 documents]]
[[Category:1965 in Christianity]]