Pastoralny wymiar kanonicznych wizytacji parafii na przykładzie Archidiecezji Warmińskiej

Canonical visitation of the parish as a form of implementation of the episcopal office is the momentous duty of every diocesan bishop. In the light of tradition reveals itself as one of the oldest institutions through which the shepherd of the diocese maintains direct contact with both clergy and laity. Because of the great pastoral significance of the visit as early as the fourth century synods ordered that the bishops during, taught and the Sacraments, a turning point in reviving this form of episcopal ministry had the Council of Trent whitch visits treated as an act preparatory to the diocesan synod. The Second Vatican Council referring to the biblical tradition and described the office of bishop as a “pastoral” and episcopal ministry as a “spiritual governance”. Noting that the territory of the diocese and its population should be such that the bishop, though he had to help others, he could personally act as bishop, created in this way, the fundamental conditions to give a canonical parish visitation clearly pastoral character. The last part of the article shows the extent to which the pastoral dimension of the mission of the diocesan bishop determines the practice of the canonical visitation of the Archdiocese of Warmia.