CCC 1577

"Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination."⁶⁶ CIC, can. 1024. The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry.⁶⁷ Cf. Mk 3:14-19; Lk 6:12-16; 1 Tim 3:1-13; 2 Tim 1:6; Titus 1:5-9; St. Clement of Rome, Ad Cor. 42, 4; 44, 3: PG 1, 292-293PG — Patrologia Graeca (Migne); 300. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ's return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason, the ordination of women is not possible.⁶⁸ Cf. John Paul II, MD 26-27; CDFCDF — Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, declaration, Inter insigniores: AAS 69AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 69 (1977) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1977) 98-116.