The Church is universal (which is what "Catholic" literally
means); the message entrusted to her is for all mankind. The
fact that the Church is often called the Roman Catholic Church
does not indicate a limitation of its universality, but is
rather a condition of it. A universal mission needs a reference
point and a source of guidance to ensure, along with its
fidelity to the will of Christ, the genuineness of its work of
evangelization in all countries and continents. That reference
point lies in Rome. Through the grace given in Baptism, we are
united to Jesus living with his very life in souls. Nothing
worse can happen than to lose that union with Christ, and with
the Church in which he lives and communicates himself. It is
urgent never to forget this, especially since our communion with
Christ is under constant threat from our human tendency to sin.
Episcopal Conferences are periodic assemblies of the bishops of
one region or country jointly exercising certain pastoral
offices on behalf of the Christian f