8.49. Isn’t it good that the Church now emphasizes shared leadership between the pope and the world’s bishops?
Many modern “Catholics” applaud Vatican II for promoting “collegiality”—the idea that the pope shares his governing authority with the college of bishops as a permanent body. This was formalized in Lumen Gentium (§22) and further emphasized in the creation of national bishops’ conferences, synods, and so-called "synodality."
But this idea is contrary to Catholic doctrine. The First Vatican Council solemnly defined that the pope alone possesses supreme, full, and immediate jurisdiction over the entire Church (Pastor Aeternus, 1870). While bishops have authority in their own dioceses, they do not collectively govern the Church with or over the pope. The concept of a permanent governing body of bishops sharing authority blurs the unique primacy of Peter, and creates a quasi-democratic Church, which opens the door to doctrinal chaos, decentralization, and heretical synods.
Below is a comparison of the true Catholic doctrine on papal primacy and episcopal authority, versus the Vatican II error of collegiality.
| Category | Traditional Catholic Doctrine | Vatican II / Novus Ordo Collegiality | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papal Authority | Pope has **supreme, full, and immediate** authority over the whole Church (*Pastor Aeternus*) | Pope exercises authority **in communion with the college of bishops**, not alone | This undermines the unique primacy of the pope as the Vicar of Christ |
| College of Bishops | Only acts with authority **when united under and with the pope** in extraordinary councils | Presents bishops as having a **collective authority**, even apart from the pope’s explicit action | This introduces an unconstitutional "second head" of the Church—an ecclesiastical democracy |
| Origin of Doctrine | Rooted in divine constitution of the Church—*Tu es Petrus* (Matt. 16:18) | Modern reinterpretation of episcopal roles based on 20th-century democratic ideals | The change reflects humanism, not divine revelation |
| Governance | Pope governs **personally** and directly; bishops govern their dioceses under him | Bishops’ conferences and synods exercise **shared governance** and “listening processes” | This leads to doctrinal diversity and paralysis in enforcing discipline |
| Unity of the Church | Unity comes through **subjection to the Roman Pontiff** | Unity is sought through **dialogue and shared discernment** with bishops and laity | This undermines the clear, hierarchical order of the Church established by Christ |
| Examples in Practice | Universal decisions come from the pope; local bishops apply them with obedience | Local bishops’ conferences decide norms independently (e.g. Communion in the hand) | Collegiality has resulted in doctrinal chaos and liturgical fragmentation |
| Vatican I Teaching | Pope’s jurisdiction is **not derived from** the bishops or Church consensus | Implied that authority is **exercised with** or **dependent on** episcopal consensus | This contradicts the solemn definitions of Vatican I and introduces heretical conciliarism |
| Fruits | Clarity of doctrine, hierarchical discipline, clear papal teaching | Synodal confusion, contradictions among bishops, regional doctrinal differences | “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16). Collegiality breeds chaos |
Summary:
The Catholic Church is a monarchy, not a democracy or federation. Christ gave full authority to St. Peter, not to a group of bishops. While bishops hold real authority in their dioceses, they do so only in submission to the pope, who alone governs the universal Church with full, immediate, and supreme jurisdiction.
Vatican II’s doctrine of collegiality contradicts this by promoting a collective governance structure—blurring the distinction between the pope and bishops, fostering regional disunity, and undermining the unique role of the papacy. It is a repackaged version of conciliarism, long condemned by the Church.
As Pope Leo XIII wrote in Satis Cognitum (1896):
“It cannot be doubted that the Church of Christ is a monarchy… The authority of the bishops is subordinate and dependent on the authority of the Roman Pontiff.”