MR 5.E Apostolic Succession

The authority given to the apostles has been handed down through these past two thousand years. Our current bishops and the pope are successors to the apostles. The first example of the apostles' authority was the election of Matthias as the new apostle. Therefore Matthias had the same authority as the apostles and he was no different. The Holy Spirit guidd apostolic succession so that it is infallible.