# Collegiality ## Catechism of the Catholic Church The principle that all the bishops of the Church with the Pope at their head form a single "college," which succeeds in every generation the "college" of the Twelve Apostles, with Peter at their head, which Christ instituted as the foundation of the Church. This college of bishops together with, but never without, the Pope has supreme and full authority over the universal Church ([[1.2.3.9.p29#^ccc-861|861]], [[1.2.3.9.p2a#^ccc-880|880]], [[1.2.3.9.p2a#^ccc-883|883]]). ## Vatican II - collegiality — "one is constituted a member of the Episcopal body in virtue of sacramental consecration and hierarchical communion" — [[lumen-gentium-03|LG ¶22–23]] - episcopal college (collegiality) — "bishops are constituted as members of the episcopal body" — [[cd-01#^cd-4|CD ¶4]]