According to Catholic belief, the Pope posseses full and supreme power of jurisdication over the whole Church, not merely in matters of faith and morals, but also in Church Discipline and in the government of the Church.
This is a Dogma which is de fide.
According to Canon 333 The Roman Pontiff, by virtue of his office, not only has power in the universal Church but also possesses a primacy of ordinary power over all the particular Churches (sui juris) and groupings of churches by which the proper, ordinary and immediate power which bishops possess in the particular Churches intrusted to their care is both strengthened and safeguarded.
The Roman Pontiff, in fulfilling the office of the supreme pastor of the Church is always united in communion with the other Bishops of the Church and with the universal Church;
however, he has the right, according to the needs of the Church, to determine the manner, either personal or collegial, of exercise of this function.
There is neither appeal nor recourse against a decision or decree of the Roman Pontiff.
That being said, we have to admit that Jurisdiction is by divine right as taught in the Scriptures and the Fathers of the Church, and therfore it is a Dogma.
However as The Pope of Rome himself has said, how that Jurisdiction is carried out is not a matter of dogma and therefore he has invited mainly the Orthodox but other Christians too to discuss how this "ministry of service to the universal Church" might be best carried out.
Stephanos I
