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Collegiality (OSV Encyc. 1997)
While Our Lord conferred his own authority fully on Peter (Mt 16:16), he also gave authority to the Apostles together as a group or "College" (Mt 18:16); cf. CCC 880. In its proper ecclesial sense, collegiality is referred to the whole body of bishops, as successors of the Apostles. Each bishop has the main mission of governing his own diocese. But, also like the Apostles, each and all together must participate, under Peter, in the concerns of the universal Church (cf. LG 23).
Collegiality has its most formal exercise in an Ecumenical Council. While the Synod of Bishops is not a parallel expression of collegiality, it tends to keep the spirit and practice of collegial collaboration strong, in service of the universal Church and the particular Churches.
From a theological viewpoint, the term "collegiality" applies only among the bishops, as successors of the Apostles. It is not properly applied to the various form of participation, encouraged by Vatican II, by which the faithful can take part in the Church's life and mission, each according to his or her ecclesial role. In this sense all the faithful are co-responsible for carrying on Christ's redemptive work.
A special spirit of participation and service should animate Diocesan Councils of Priests (cc. 495ss) or Parish Councils (cc. 228; 536). These councils are not organs of government (no more than is the Synod of Bishops); their function is to offer advice and practical help to the persons canonically charged with the mission of being pastor of the parish or diocese.
As Chapter Three of Lumen Gentium makes clear, the Church has a hierarchical constitution given by Christ. In fostering service and participation, Vatican II did not seek to introduce principles of "majority rule" into church decisions. The local bishop is responsible for government within each diocese. In some concrete cases the new Code of Canon Law requires him to consult the opinion of certain bodies, without necessarily being bound their advice (e.g. cc. 494; 515 §2; 531; 1215 §2; 1222 §2; 1277). In a few specially important cases he is bound by the decision of the College of Consultors (cc. 1277; 1292 §1). A wise bishop will always want and seek the advice of wise consultors.