"That divine mission, entrusted by Christ to the apostles, will last until the end of the world, since the Gospel they are to teach is for all time the source of all life for the Church...Bishops by divine institution have succeeded to the place of the apostles...and he who hears them, hears Christ, and he who rejects them, rejects Christ...In the bishops, therefore...Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Supreme High Priest, is present in the midst of those who believe...He is not absent from the gathering of His high priests, but above all through their excellent service He is preaching the word of God to all nations, and constantly administering the sacraments of faith to those who believe...and finally by their wisdom and prudence He directs and guides the People of the New Testament in their pilgrimage toward eternal happiness. These pastors, chosen to shepherd the Lord's flock of the elect, are servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."
(Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, LUMEN GENTIUM, 20-21)