Apostolic_succession Apostolic succession is the doctrine in some of the more ancient Christian communions that the succession of bishops, in uninterrupted lines, is historically traceable back to the original Twelve Apostles Within Catholic Christianity it "is one of four elements which define the true Church of Jesus Christ" and legitimizes the existing sacramental offices, as it is considered necessary for a bishop to perform legitimate or "valid" ordinations of priests, deacons, and other bishops.
official site of the holy see, official vatican site, holy see, vatican, santa sede, vaticano, sito ufficiale della santa sede, sito ufficiale del vaticano, saint-siège, vatican, heilige stuhl, vatikan, , Vatican: the Holy See