Katholisch-Apostolische Kirche Europa

What is apostolic succession?

Apostolic succession is the transmission of the episcopal ministry through the laying on of hands from bishop to bishop, in continuity with the apostolic Church. For the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe, it represents an essential element of its ecclesial and sacramental identity.

The line of the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe

The Catholic Apostolic Church Europe traces its episcopal succession to the Igreja Católica Apostólica Brasileira (ICAB), founded in 1945 by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, formerly Roman Catholic Bishop of Botucatu, Brazil.

Dom Carlos Duarte Costa had been consecrated a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. The episcopal line passing through him is therefore traced by the Church to the Catholic episcopal tradition and the historical Rebiba line.

The Rebiba line

The Rebiba line is one of the best-known historical lines of episcopal succession in the Latin West. The Catholic Apostolic Church Europe presents its line of consecration as connected to this succession through Dom Carlos Duarte Costa.

In the documentation published by the Church, bishops and cardinals of the Roman Catholic tradition are cited along this historical line, including Cardinal Sebastião Leme da Silveira Cintra, as well as the wider episcopal line that reaches back through the Rebiba tradition.

Dom Carlos Duarte Costa and the ICAB

In 1945, Dom Carlos Duarte Costa founded the Igreja Católica Apostólica Brasileira (ICAB) in Brazil after separating from communion with Rome. His episcopal consecration, however, had previously been received in the Roman Catholic Church.

In the ICAB, apostolic succession is preserved through the laying on of hands by bishops. Bishops belonging to this line trace their succession to Dom Carlos Duarte Costa.

The case of Salomão Barbosa Ferraz

The historical presentation of the succession also recalls the case of Bishop Salomão Barbosa Ferraz, who was consecrated by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa. He was later received into the Roman Catholic Church without a new episcopal consecration.

The Catholic Apostolic Church Europe regards this episode as an important historical reference in the discussion concerning the sacramental continuity of the line deriving from Dom Carlos Duarte Costa.

The succession of Archbishop Gioacchino (Gino) Collica

Gioacchino (Gino) Collica received priestly ordination on 12 April 2015.

On 17 October 2015, he received episcopal consecration in the private Chapel of St Michael in Duisburg, with the participation of Bishops Gianni di Marco, Michael Schatta, and Pius H. Tonndorf.

On 20 January 2020, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, he received a consecration sub condicione from Bishop Serge Donatien Abeng Mbarga.

The succession presented by the Church through Serge Donatien Abeng Mbarga is traced to Dom Carlos Duarte Costa and, through him, to the Roman Catholic episcopal tradition.

Apostolic succession and ecclesial identity

For the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe, apostolic succession is not merely a genealogy of names. It means continuity of the episcopal ministry, responsibility for safeguarding the faith, celebration of the Sacraments, and service to the People of God.

The Church understands its bishops as standing within this apostolic continuity according to its own ecclesial identity and canon law.

Clarification concerning recognition by the Roman Catholic Church

It is important to distinguish the succession claimed and documented by the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe from canonical recognition by the Roman Catholic Church.

The Catholic Apostolic Church Europe is independent of Rome and does not claim that its bishops belong to the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church applies its own canon law and ecclesiological assessment to ministers who do not belong to its communion.

For this reason, when speaking of the apostolic succession of the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe, a distinction must be made between the continuity of the episcopal line affirmed by the Church and canonical recognition by other Churches.

Continuity, responsibility, and service

Apostolic succession is understood by the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe as both a gift and a responsibility. It is not intended to increase the personal prestige of a bishop, but to safeguard the faith, serve the faithful, administer the Sacraments, and transmit the ministry received.