Reflection 333
Based
on the 1965 Vatican II document: (Comments welcome here) |
Article 1: Just as Jesus was sent by the Father, so Jesus sent the apostles. No problem
Article 2: Pope enjoys supreme, full,
immediate, and universal authority and primacy of power over all the
churches.
Bishops are successors of the apostles, subservient to the pope.
Problem
Article 2 reflects the tensions that were present at Vatican II - one group pushing for absolute-monarchy type status for the pope, another group pushing for collegiality between pope and bishops.
See this article for how the tension continues today
Jesus, please help the pope and
bishops work together
the way you intended them to work together