Two recent documents from the Holy See — Pastores Gregis, the post-synod apostolic exhortation of Pope John Paul II, and the Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops from the Congregation for Bishops — vigorously affirm the value and necessity of national episcopal conferences while refining and clarifying their proper role. (firstthings.com)
For example, an apostolic exhortation of one pontificate does not possess more authority than an encyclical of a prior papacy. (firstthings.com)
Pope Francis's recent Apostolic Exhortation on the Family, Amoris Laetitia, represents an effort to combat this trend. (firstthings.com)