Apostolic Succession
The unbroken succession of bishops from the apostles, transmitted by the laying on of hands, through which apostolic teaching, sacraments and authority are handed on in the Church.
The apostles appointed successors and handed on to them, with the laying on of hands, the authority they had received from Christ. Those successors are the bishops, and the Catechism says that through them the apostolic tradition is manifested and preserved to the end of the world. A bishop receives the apostolic ministry through sacramental succession in the college of bishops. Apostolic succession is why the Church can claim that her sacraments are Christ's sacraments and her teaching the apostles' teaching, and it is one of the four marks of the Church in the Creed: one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
Councils
Where the Church settled or debated this. Follow a council to read our article on it, or the decrees themselves.
- 1545–1563Council of Trentthe decrees
- 1962–1965Second Vatican Councilthe decrees
Sources checked 29 September 2026