I. SYNODS, COUNCILS AND ESPECIALLY EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES

36. From the earliest ages of the Church, bishops in charge of particular churches, inspired by a spirit of fraternal charity and by zeal for the universal mission entrusted to the apostles, have pooled their resources and their aspirations in order to promote both the common good and the good of individual churches. With this end in view synods, provincial councils and, finally, plenary councils were established in which the bishops determined on a common program to be followed in various churches both for teaching the truths of the faith and for regulating ecclesiastical discipline.

This sacred Ecumenical Synod expresses its earnest hope that these admirable institutions --- synods and councils --- may flourish with renewed vigor so that the growth of religion and the maintenance of discipline in the various churches may increasingly be more effectively provided for in accordance with the needs of the times.

37. It is often impossible, nowadays especially, for bishops to exercise their office suitably and fruitfully unless they establish closer understanding and cooperation with other bishops. Since episcopal conferences --- many such have already been established in different countries --- have produced outstanding examples of a more fruitful apostolate, this sacred Synod judges that it would be in the highest degree helpful if in all parts of the world the bishops of each country or region would meet regularly, so that by sharing their wisdom and experience and exchanging views they may jointly formulate a program for the common good of the Church.

Therefore, the sacred Synod makes the following decrees concerning episcopal conferences:

38. (1) An episcopal conference is a form of assembly in which the bishops of a certain country or region exercise their pastoral office jointly in order to enhance the Church's beneficial influence on all men, especially by devising forms of the apostolate and apostolic methods suitably adapted to the circumstances of the times.

(2) Members of the episcopal conferences include all local ordinaries of whatever rite (but not vicars general), coadjutor and auxiliary bishops and other titular bishops to whom the Apostolic See or the episcopal conferences have entrusted some special work. Other titular bishops and legates of the Roman Pontiff, in view of their special position in the region, are not __de jure__ members of the conference.

The local ordinaries and coadjutors have a deliberative vote. The statutes of the conference will determine whether auxiliary bishops and other bishops entitled to attend the conference be given a deliberative or consultative voice.

(3) Each episcopal conference will draw up its own statutes, which will be subject to the approval of the Apostolic See. These statutes will provide, among other things, for the setting up of those offices which are requisite for the effectiveness of the conference, for example, a permanent council of bishops, episcopal commissions and a general secretariat.

(4) Decisions of the episcopal conference, provided they have been legitimately approved by at least two thirds of the votes of the prelates who have a deliberative vote in the conference, and provided they have been confirmed by the Apostolic See, shall have the force of law, but only in those cases in which it is so prescribed by the common law, or when it has been so declared by a special mandate of the Apostolic See promulgated on its own initiative or at the request of the conference itself.

(5) When the special circumstances require it, bishops of different countries may, subject to the approval of the Apostolic See, establish one joint conference. Moreover, contacts between episcopal conferences of different countries are to be encouraged for the promotion of the common good.

(6) It is earnestly recommended to prelates of the Oriental Churches that when engaged in the improvement of morals in their own Church and in the promotion of activities beneficial to religion, they should take into consideration the common good of the whole of a region in which there happen to be Churches of different rites. They should meet representatives of other rites and discuss matters with them, in accordance with rules to be determined by the competent authority. (See D. 46, 41.)