Michael Buckley, S.J., argues that the doctrine of papal primacy should be implemented in such a manner as to restore a decisive voice to the local church in the choice of its bishop, depending more on relationship than on authority.

Publisher Comments

With his trademark rigor and clarity, Michael Buckley argues that a true theology of papal primacy, as opposed to an ideology of primacy, must focus on the papacy's nature as a unique relationship, whose purpose is the unity of bishops among themselves and (through them) the unity of the entire Church.