# Episcopal / Episcopate ## Catechism of the Catholic Church Pertaining to the office of bishop (Greek: _episkopos_), hence episcopal consecration, the episcopal college, episcopal conferences (CCC [[1.2.3.9.p2a#^ccc-883|883]], [[1.2.3.9.p2a#^ccc-887|887]], [[2.2.3.6.p4u#^ccc-1557|1557]]). "Episcopate" is a collective noun referring to all those who have received sacramental ordination as bishops. ### See Also [[1.2.3.9.p2a|ccc-883]] [[1.2.3.9.p2a|ccc-887]] [[2.2.3.6.p4u|ccc-1557]] ## Vatican II - episcopate (bishops as successors of the apostles) — "bishops by divine institution have succeeded to the place of the apostles, as shepherds of the Church" — [[lumen-gentium-03|LG ¶18–21]]