The Progressive Deepening of Ecclesiology of the People of God in the Drafting of “Lumen gentium”

Abstract

This paper argues for the coherence of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church as an ecclesiology of the people of God. It is better not to consider the chapters on the people of God (chapter II) and on the laity (chapter IV) as irreconcilable to the one dealing with the bishops (chapter III). During all the stages of the redaction history of Lumen gentium, it was ensured that the hierarchy was not forgotten in the chapters on the people of God and the laity and that the other members of the people of God were not forgotten in the chapter on the bishops.