Gal 2, 6-10 They gave me and Barnabas their right hands

(Gal 2, 6-10) They gave me and Barnabas their right hands

[6] But from those who were reputed to be important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) - those of repute made me add nothing. [7] On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter to the circumcised, [8] for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles, [9] and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and Kephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. [10] Only, we were to be mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do.

(CCC 884) "The college of bishops exercises power over the universal Church in a solemn manner in an ecumenical council" (CIC, can. 337 § 1). But "there never is an ecumenical council which is not confirmed or at least recognized as such by Peter's successor" (LG 22). (CCC 885) "This college, in so far as it is composed of many members, is the expression of the variety and universality of the People of God; and of the unity of the flock of Christ, in so far as it is assembled under one head" (LG 22). (CCC 886) "The individual bishops are the visible source and foundation of unity in their own particular Churches" (LG 23). As such, they "exercise their pastoral office over the portion of the People of God assigned to them" (LG 23), assisted by priests and deacons. But, as a member of the episcopal college, each bishop shares in the concern for all the Churches (Cf. CD 3). The bishops exercise this care first "by ruling well their own Churches as portions of the universal Church," and so contributing "to the welfare of the whole Mystical Body, which, from another point of view, is a corporate body of Churches" (LG 23). They extend it especially to the poor (Cf. Gal 2:10), to those persecuted for the faith, as well as to missionaries who are working throughout the world. (CCC 887) Neighboring particular Churches who share the same culture form ecclesiastical provinces or larger groupings called patriarchates or regions (Cf. Apostolic Constitutions 34). The bishops of these groupings can meet in synods or provincial councils. "In a like fashion, the episcopal conferences at the present time are in a position to contribute in many and fruitful ways to the concrete realization of the collegiate spirit" (LG 23 § 3).