„Communio hierarchica“ as a Form of Realization of the Church’s „Communion-Unity“ in the Teaching of the Second Vatican Council

Abstract

The communion-unity (Communio-Einheit) of the Church, understood as unity in diversity and diversity in unity, also corresponds to the Trinitarian understanding of unity. However, this view of the Church as a communion-unity also requires consideration of a structural tension, namely the concept of communio hierarchica. This concept explicitly addresses the close belonging of the individual bishop to the college of bishops and his communion with the Pope, while implicitly expressing the relationship between the individual local Churches and the communion of the universal Church. At the same time, the Spirit-given equality and fellowship of all the baptized in faith constitute the foundation of every ecclesial order and structure. The Christomonistic subordination of the community to the office-holder and of charism to office—which implies an exclusive representation of Christ and an exclusive possession of the Spirit by the ordained ministry—is overcome by the Council precisely through its renewal of the pneumatological dimension of the Church.