Hierarchy of the Catholic Church

3649: 1022: 2464: 2443: 2720: 3856: 997: 30: 9449: 2423: 57: 4619:) of the parish entrusted to him, exercising the pastoral care of the community committed to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share, so that for that same community he carries out the functions of teaching, sanctifying, and governing, also with the cooperation of other presbyters or deacons and with the assistance of lay members of the Christian faithful, according to the norm of law 3283: 3441: 3410: 9438: 2483: 949: 2822:(died 304) is the first Bishop of Rome shown in sources to have had the title "pope" used of him. From the 6th century, the imperial chancery of Constantinople normally reserved this designation for the Bishop of Rome. From the early 6th century, it began to be confined in the West to the Bishop of Rome, a practice that was firmly in place by the 11th century, when Pope Gregory VII declared it reserved for the Bishop of Rome. 2453: 3379: 3348: 2433: 2555:, authority rests chiefly with bishops, while priests and deacons serve as their assistants, co-workers or helpers. Accordingly, "hierarchy of the Catholic Church" is also used to refer to the bishops alone. The term "pope" was still used loosely until the sixth century, being at times assumed by other bishops. The term "hierarchy" became popular only in the sixth century, due to the writings of 4511:), be at least thirty years old, and, unless the smallness of the diocese or the limited number of cases suggests otherwise, must not be the vicar general. As one of the jobs of the judicial vicar is to preside over collegiate tribunals, many dioceses have adjutant judicial vicars who can preside over collegiate tribunals in place of the judicial vicar and must have the same qualifications. 2992:. This deals with the powers, from the death of a pope to the announcement of his successor's election, of the cardinals and the departments of the Roman curia; with the funeral arrangements for the dead pope; and with the place, time and manner of voting of the meeting of the cardinal electors, a meeting known as a 4949:

The consultative leadership of the church, in both the diocese and the parish, usually comprises a Pastoral Council and a Finance Council, as well as several Commissions usually focusing on major aspects of the church's life and mission, such as Faith Formation or Christian Education, Liturgy, Social

4937:

Some lay Catholics carry out full-time professional and vocational service in the name of the church, rather than in a secular calling. Though the phenomenon is widespread in North America and much of Europe, the organization and definition of the ministry is left to national bishops conferences. The

4908:), meaning "people of God". All Christian faithful have the right and duty to bring the gospel message increasingly to "all people in every age and every land". They all have a share in the church's mission and have the right to undertake apostolic activity according to their own state and condition. 2888:

of the Latin Church. According to Pope Benedict XVI, there has been much 'confusion' between the pope's primacy as patriarch of the western church and his primacy as first patriarch among equals, that this "failure to distinguish" between the roles and responsibilities of these two distinct positions

2701:

to the episcopate is considered the completion of the sacrament of Holy Orders; even when a bishop retires from his active service, he remains a bishop, since the ontological effect of Holy Orders is permanent. On the other hand, titles such as archbishop or patriarch imply no ontological alteration,

4822:

are ordained ministers of the church who are co-workers with the bishop alongside presbyters, but are intended to focus on the ministries of direct service and outreach to the poor and needy, rather than pastoral leadership. They are usually related to a parish, where they have a liturgical function

3311:

church is equivalent to that of a patriarch in his church. This less prestigious office was established in 1963 for those Eastern Catholic Churches which have developed in size and stability to allow full self-governance if historical, ecumenical, or political conditions do not allow their elevation

4641:

Whenever it is necessary or opportune for the due pastoral care of the parish, one or more assistant priests can be joined with the parish priest. As cooperators with the parish priest and sharers in his concern, they are, by common counsel and effort with the parish priest and under his authority,

4468:

for the diocese. They have the same ordinary power as a vicar general, however, it is limited to a specified division of the diocese, to a specific type of activity, to the faithful of a particular rite, or to certain groups of people. Vicars general and episcopal vicars must be priests or bishops.

2643:

and are "constituted Pastors in the Church, to be the teachers of doctrine, the priests of sacred worship and the ministers of governance" and "represent the Church." In 2012, there were 5,133 Catholic bishops; at the end of 2021, there were 5,340 Catholic bishops. The Pope himself is a bishop (the

4845:

They may be seminarians preparing for ordination to the priesthood, "transitional deacons", or "permanent deacons" who do not intend to be ordained as priests. To be ordained deacons, the latter must be at least 25 years old, if unmarried; if married, a prospective deacon must be at least 35 years

4656:

Whenever it is necessary or opportune in order to carry out the pastoral care of a parish fittingly, one or more parochial vicars can be associated with the pastor. As co-workers with the pastor and sharers in his solicitude, they are to offer service in the pastoral ministry by common counsel and

4383:

ordains only celibate clergy, while also having married priests who were ordained in the Orthodox Church, while other Eastern Catholic Churches, which do ordain married men, do not have married priests in certain countries. The Western or Latin Church does sometimes, though rarely, ordain married

4596:

The parish priest is the proper pastor of the parish entrusted to him. He exercises the pastoral care of the community entrusted to him under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, whose ministry of Christ he is called to share, so that for this community he may carry out the offices of teaching,

4395:

dedicating the ordinand to a permanent relationship of service, and, like Baptism and Confirmation, having an ontological effect on him. It is for this reason that a person may be ordained to each of the three orders only once. They also consider that ordination can be conferred only on males.

3794:

has in some countries been granted to the bishop of a particular (usually metropolitan) see. It once involved authority over all the other sees in the country or region, but now only gives a "prerogative of honor" with no power of governance unless an exception is made in certain matters by a

4170:

of a see has the right of succession on the death or resignation of the diocesan bishop, and, if the see is an archdiocese, holds the title of archbishop. Similarly, a retired diocesan bishop keeps his connection with the see to which he was appointed, and is known as bishop (or archbishop)

3726:

made it a rule that a man who has been nominated a cardinal is required to be consecrated a bishop, if not one already, but some ask for and obtain dispensation from this requirement. It is rare that the Pope will appoint Cardinals who are priests only and not consecrated as a bishop.

3758:, meaning "hinge") was applied to them. In the 12th century the practice of appointing ecclesiastics from outside Rome as cardinals began. Each cardinal is still assigned a church in Rome as his "titular church" or is linked with one of the suburbicarian dioceses. Of these sees, the 2837:

among his peers, the other bishops, as Peter had a certain primacy among his peers, the other apostles. The exact nature of that primacy is one of the most significant ecumenical issues of the age, and has developed as a doctrine throughout the entire history of the Catholic Church.

2861:, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, 'is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.'" Communion with the bishop of Rome has become such a significant identifier of Catholic identity that at times the 3745:

The cardinalate is not an integral part of the theological structure of the Catholic Church, but largely an honorific distinction that has its origins in the 1059 assignation of the right of electing the Pope exclusively to the principal clergy of Rome and the bishops of the seven

4892:". Even in those societies within the Latin Church that, with the approval of the Holy See, continue to administer the rites of tonsure, minor orders and subdiaconate, those who receive those rites remain lay people, becoming clerics only on being ordained as deacons. 4404:

Although priests are incardinated into a diocese or order, they may obtain the permission of their diocesan ordinary or religious superior to serve outside the normal jurisdiction of the diocese or order. These assignments may be temporary or more permanent in nature.

4576:), namely of a group of parishes within a diocese. Unlike a regional Episcopal vicar, a vicar forane acts as a help for the parish priests and other priests in the vicariate forane, rather than as an intermediate authority between them and the diocesan bishop. 4765:, i.e., as long as they hold those offices, and so are entitled to be addressed as Monsignor, as indicated also by the placing of the abbreviated title "Mons", before the name of every member of the secular (diocesan) clergy listed as a vicar general in the 5613:

Member of the Episcopal College by virtue of his sacramental ordination and hierarchical communion, the bishop represents his Church just as all the bishops, in union with the Pope, represent the Church universal in the bonds of peace, love, unity, and

5034:, or others, and the specific duties and responsibilities for each office will depend on the specific order or congregation. Those who are in the process of joining a religious institute but have not yet taken their perpetual vows may be referred to as 4146:(formerly called a vicar capitular) elected to govern a diocese during a vacancy. Apart from certain limitations of nature and law, he has, on a caretaker basis, the same obligations and powers as a diocesan bishop (canons 427–429 of the 1983 2574:. Ordinarily, care of a parish is entrusted to a priest, though there are exceptions. Approximately 19.3% of all parishes do not have a resident pastor, and 1,948 parishes worldwide are entrusted to a deacon or lay ecclesial minister. 2918:. This title was common to all bishops from the fourth through twelfth centuries, reserved to the bishop of Rome from the twelfth through early twentieth centuries, and restored to all bishops at the Second Vatican Council. 7007: 4459:

to assist him in the governance of the diocese. Usually, only one vicar general is appointed; particularly large dioceses may have more than one vicar general. The vicar general or one of them is usually appointed

2690:, fall within the exclusive competence of these conferences. The decisions of the conferences are binding on the individual bishops only if agreed to by at least two-thirds of the membership and confirmed by the 5952: 6706: 6688: 6624: 6586: 4588:, which in some English-speaking countries is rendered as "the parish priest", in others as "the pastor". The English term "pastor" is also used in a more generic sense corresponding instead to the Latin term 4983:. It is distinct also from forms that do not involve membership of an institute, such as that of consecrated hermits, that of consecrated virgins, and other forms whose approval is reserved to the Holy See. 3470:

There are also titular patriarchs in the Latin Church, who, for various historical reasons, were granted the title, but never the corresponding office and responsibilities, of "patriarch". They include the

4378:

In the Latin Church, only celibate men, as a rule, are ordained as priests, while the Eastern Churches, again as a rule, ordain both celibate and married men. Among the Eastern particular Churches, the

6985: 6964: 5914: 4846:

old and have the consent of his wife. In the Latin Church, married deacons are permanent deacons. In most diocese there is a cut-off age for being accepted into formation for the diaconate.

4388:

churches of the Catholic Church maintain the ancient tradition that, following ordination, marriage is not allowed. Even a married priest or deacon whose wife dies may not then marry again.

2705:

Sacramentally, all bishops are equal. According to jurisdiction, office, and privileges, however, various ranks are distinguished, as indicated below. All bishops are "vicars of Christ".

4807:

is sometimes attached to the pastors of historic churches, including the major basilicas in Rome. These archpriests are not presbyters, but bishops or cardinals. Similarly, the title of

3921:

Eastern Metropolitans in patriarchal or major archiepiscopal churches have a level of authority similar to that of Latin metropolitans, subject to the specific laws and customs of their

2800:, not an office or a title, meaning "Father" (the common honorific for all clergy). The honorific "pope" was from the early 3rd century used for any bishop in the West, and is known in 8125: 7962: 1894: 909: 6583: 4650:

in the English translation by the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland, assisted by the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Canadian Canon Law Society

4605:

in the English translation by the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland, assisted by the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Canadian Canon Law Society

2948:

which was subject to international law even before the state was instituted. The body of officials that assist the Pope in governance of the church as a whole is known as the

3134:

These have authority not only over the bishops of their particular church, including metropolitans, but also directly over all the faithful. Eastern Catholic patriarchs have

3004:(key) and refers to the locking away of the participants from outside influences, a measure that was introduced first as a means instead of forcing them to reach a decision. 7001: 2956:, which concerns governance of the Latin Church as a whole and not internal affairs of the see (diocese) of Rome itself, necessarily uses the term in this technical sense. 4123: 3995:

The bishop or eparch of a see, even if he does not also hold a title such as archbishop, metropolitan, major archbishop, patriarch or pope, is the centre of unity for his

2769: 3402: 2908: 979: 5956: 6703: 6685: 6617: 2697:

Bishops are normally ordained to the episcopate by at least three other bishops, though for validity only one is needed and a mandatum from the Holy See is required.

7717: 5167:"If any one saith, that, in the Catholic Church there is not a hierarchy by divine ordination instituted, consisting of bishops, priests, and ministers; let him be 3960:

is held not only by bishops who head metropolitan sees, but also by those who head archdioceses that are not metropolitan sees (most of these are in Europe and the

9132: 3487:. All of these offices are honorary, and the patriarchs are not the heads of autonomous particular churches. The Patriarch of the East Indies is the archbishop of 3433: 4194:

Important titles or functions usually, but not necessarily, held by (arch)bishops who are not in charge of a diocese or an equivalent community include those of

3371: 3340: 6546:(10 immediately subject to the Holy See, 1 immediately subject to an Eastern Catholic major archbishop, 25 suffragan archdioceses, and 1 military archdiocese), 5433:, which comprises both bishops and, in the common English sense, priests. To refer exclusively to priests in the more common English sense, Latin uses the word 4597:

sanctifying and ruling with the cooperation of other priests or deacons and with the assistance of lay members of Christ's faithful, in accordance with the law

7747: 3782:, the former rank being normally assigned to bishops in charge of dioceses, and the latter to officials of the Curia and to priests raised to the cardinalate. 6980: 6959: 4689:, and may be granted by him also to other diocesan priests at the request of the priest's bishop. The priest so honored is considered to be a member of the 3899:

suffragan see if the diocesan council of consultors fails to properly elect one. His diocesan tribunal additionally serves by default as the ecclesiastical

9052: 5610: 3968:" below) who have been given no-longer-residential archdioceses as their titular sees—many of these in administrative or diplomatic posts, for instance as 3191: 3079: 8150: 6463: 5926: 4722:), the middle level, distinguished by red buttons and trim on the black cassock, with a purple sash, and by choir dress that includes a purple cassock. 4384:

men, usually Protestant clergy who have become Catholics. A married man aged 35 and above may be ordained as a deacon, with his wife's permission. All

8617: 5102: 2884:

owes its identity and development to its origins in the liturgical, juridical, and theological patrimony of Rome, the bishop of Rome is de facto the

2511: 2359: 2093: 6157: 6133: 6109: 6085: 6061: 6037: 3976:. The bishop of a non-archiepiscopal see may be given the personal title of archbishop without also elevating his see (such a bishop is known as an 7403: 6879:"Pariter, qui vicarii generalis aut etiam capitularis munere fungitur, hoc munere dumtaxat perdurante, erit protonotarius titularis" (Pope Pius X, 5152: 3420: 3173: 3068: 904: 8938: 3263: 3245: 3123: 3112: 972: 7291:

of the Roman Catholic Church. It contains geographical, organizational and address information on each Catholic diocese in the world, including

5097: 4526:. The bishop also appoints a finance officer and a finance council to oversee the budget, temporal goods, income, and expenses of the diocese. 4552:

The bishop appoints priests and other members of the faithful to various advisory bodies. These include the presbyteral council, the diocesan

9330: 9117: 8120: 7457: 5624: 5125: 3227: 3101: 1899: 8000: 7133: 4939: 4056:(normally a bishop of a titular see), in charge of an apostolic vicariate, usually in a mission country, not yet ready to be made a diocese 2043: 4375:, whether territorial or person-based, within a diocese are normally in the charge of a priest, known as the parish priest or the pastor. 3891:

in their province, including ensuring that the faith and ecclesiastical discipline are properly observed. He also has the power to name a

8669: 8412: 7950: 4012:

Within the Catholic Church the following posts have similarities to that of a diocesan bishop, but are not necessarily held by a bishop.

2376: 1359: 6932: 5196: 4880:

decreed: "The orders hitherto called minor are henceforth to be spoken of as 'ministries'." The same motu proprio also decreed that the

9325: 8354: 8257: 5130: 5067: 4842:

The scriptural basis and description of the role and qualifications of the deacon can be found in Acts 6:1–9, and in 1 Timothy 3:1–13.

4431:

or to long-term teaching assignments to the faculty of a seminary or Catholic university. Priests may also serve on the staff of their

3735: 3135: 965: 73: 3648: 9290: 9152: 8070: 4082:(normally a bishop of a titular see), in charge of an apostolic exarchate—not yet ready to be made an eparchy—for the faithful of an 1444: 7315:

and (when applicable) death. Not officially sanctioned by the church, the website is run as a private project by David M. Cheney in

6594: 4794:

upon unmarried priests as a mark of respect or gratitude for their services. Married presbyters may be honored with the position of

4730:, the highest level, with the same dress as that of an Honorary Prelate, except that the non-obligatory purple silk cape known as a 3918:

in Rome, who conduct a final evaluation of candidates and offer their findings to the pope for his final decision of appointment.

7665: 4839:, in the absence of a priest, deacons do not vest and may only lead services as a reader, never presiding at weddings or funerals. 2776: 2594: 2386: 1536: 6906: 3914:, who evaluates the candidates in a consultative and confidential process. The nuncio in turn forwards the best candidates to the 3138:

over all other bishops, with the exceptions laid down by the Pope. The honorary title prefixed to their names is "His Beatitude".

2833:. As such, the Church of Rome, and its bishop, has always had a prominence in the Catholic communion and at least to some degree 9237: 8331: 6011: 5983: 5413:"The minister who is able to confect the sacrament of the Eucharist in the person of Christ is a validly ordained priest alone" ( 5259: 3864: 2606: 2289: 69: 38: 4746:

to priests not in the service of the Holy See only in the rank of Chaplain of His Holiness and only to priests aged 65 or over.

3906:

The metropolitans of a given territory are also involved in the selection of bishops. Every three years, they compile a list of

7565: 7560: 5534: 4475: 7338: 7248: 6745: 5867: 5755: 5641: 5476: 4572:

or the Archpriest or by some other title, is the priest who is placed in charge of a vicariate forane" (canon 553 of the 1983

9473: 9269: 9217: 7849: 7049: 7026: 6605: 5824: 5722: 5449: 2504: 1335: 6828: 6229: 9207: 8943: 7461: 7396: 6333: 3819: 3616: 2366: 731: 6550:(3 immediately subject to the Holy See, 21 immediately subject to Eastern Catholic patriarchs, 4 suffragan archdioceses), 3933:

church have much greater authority within their church, although it is less than that of a major archbishop or patriarch.

9247: 9077: 7985: 7732: 5092: 2038: 1566: 4849:

The passage from membership of the laity to that of the clergy occurs with ordination to the diaconate. Previously, the

214: 8906: 8403: 8012: 7737: 5302: 4946:

for these individuals, as intentionally distinct from the general apostolate or ministry of the laity described above.

4522:. These officials maintain the records and archives of the diocese. They also serve as the secretaries of the diocesan 3052:

The pope, as patriarch of the Latin Church, is the head of the only sui iuris Church in the West, leading to the title

2339: 2053: 914: 4934:, and the like, initiation sponsors, pastoral care ministers, and members of parish and diocesan consultative bodies. 3770:, but when Eastern patriarchs are made cardinals, they too hold the rank of Cardinal Bishop, without being assigned a 3766:, while keeping his preceding link with one of the other six sees. Traditionally, only six cardinals held the rank of 2635:, who possess the fullness of orders, and therefore the fullness of both priesthood and diaconate, are as a body (the 8889: 8491: 8138: 7972: 7423: 7371: 6805: 6761: 6523: 5513: 4353: 3606: 2456: 2406: 2334: 2319: 2018: 1085: 791: 529: 3903:

for suffragans (court of second instance), and the metropolitan has the option of judging those appeals personally.

9403: 8951: 8704: 8649: 8514: 8249: 7990: 7775: 7722: 5845: 5236: 5212: 4976: 4888:

that so desired to apply the term "subdeacon" to those who hold the ministry (formerly called the minor order) of "

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who coordinates the diocesan administrative offices and ministries. A diocesan bishop can also appoint one or more

4005: 3759: 2842: 2497: 2436: 2349: 2250: 2033: 1824: 1645: 1561: 1383: 1239: 708: 497: 7324: 7311:. It also gives biographical information on current and previous bishops of each diocese, such as dates of birth, 4914:

can take the form of exercising the priesthood of all the baptized, and more specifically undertaking the work of

9412: 8754: 8729: 8694: 8689: 8654: 8534: 8133: 8017: 7607: 7570: 7453: 7433: 7389: 4835:

may preside at non-Eucharistic liturgies such as baptisms, weddings, funerals, and adoration/benediction. In the

4368: 3944:, a title held not only by the 553 metropolitan sees but also by 77 other sees. An exception is the metropolitan 3573: 3451: 2900: 2772: 2582: 2556: 2416: 2324: 2048: 1067: 713: 522: 3251: 2566:

or equivalent jurisdictions, each overseen by a bishop. Dioceses are divided into individual communities called

9350: 9062: 8749: 8719: 8699: 8639: 8429: 8145: 7683: 7675: 7587: 7448: 7428: 4959: 4111:, in charge of a group of persons without regard to geography: the only personal prelature existing is that of 4030:

lists five Latin Church jurisdictional areas that are considered equivalent to a diocese. These are headed by:

4003:, and, as a member of the College of Bishops, shares in responsibility for governance of the whole church (cf. 3358: 3298: 2960: 2784: 2602: 2411: 1676: 1469: 1152: 1063: 1035: 646: 204: 2644:

bishop of Rome) and traditionally uses the title "Venerable Brother" when writing formally to another bishop.

8724: 8714: 8040: 7911: 7809: 7506: 7316: 5417:

While in the English language, the word "priest" usually means someone received into the second of the three

4261:

have ordinary power of governance for the whole territory of their respective autonomous particular churches.

4063:(usually not a bishop), in charge of an apostolic prefecture, not yet ready to be made an apostolic vicariate 3586: 3186: 3083: 2610: 2294: 2264: 2064: 1664: 761: 177: 2659:

calls ordinary (i.e. not delegated) authority for a diocese. These bishops may be known as hierarchs in the

2551:

In canonical and general usage, it refers to those who exercise authority within a Christian church. In the

9305: 9276: 9259: 9167: 8779: 8744: 8734: 8312: 8293: 8155: 7906: 7819: 4093:, a bishop in charge of a patriarchal exarchate—not yet ready to be made an eparchy—for the faithful of an 3560: 3518: 3492: 3484: 3472: 3389: 2889:

leads in time to the "extreme centralization of the Catholic Church" and the schism between East and West.

2834: 2533: 2354: 2329: 2259: 1721: 1219: 345: 6855: 3887:

from the pope as a symbol of his office. The metropolitan bishop has limited oversight authority over the

9315: 8065: 7933: 7802: 6154: 6130: 6106: 6082: 6058: 6034: 4971:, societies in which the members take public vows and live a fraternal life in common. This is a form of 4515: 3850: 3800: 3209: 3090: 2656: 2590: 2446: 2381: 2371: 2284: 1982: 1609: 1526: 1459: 1300: 534: 335: 5149: 9232: 9030: 8684: 8336: 8302: 8261: 6665: 5062: 3973: 3710:

introduced the requirement that a cardinal must be at least a priest. Previously, they need only be in

3596: 3495:

was in the past granted to some Spanish bishops (not always of the same see), but is long in abeyance.

3233: 2269: 1021: 448: 95: 7089: 6724: 6293: 5734: 5559: 4042:(of no diocese), in charge of a geographical area that has not yet been raised to the level of diocese 3675:

which advises the Pope, and those cardinals under the age of 80 at the death or resignation of a Pope

9422: 9368: 9039: 8989: 8679: 8634: 7742: 7292: 5365: 4995: 4836: 4341: 4246: 3834: 2975: 2811: 2660: 2279: 2255: 1502: 1234: 786: 6608:), p. 197, which also mentions Eastern Catholic exarchs appointed in the past even by a metropolitan 4800:, which has two grades, the higher is "Mitred Archpriest" which permits the priest to wear a mitre. 631: 9452: 9388: 9310: 9281: 8901: 8896: 8774: 8674: 8659: 8644: 8486: 8307: 8197: 8115: 7939: 7916: 7867: 7540: 7304: 5241: 5217: 4987: 4911: 4698: 4380: 3258: 3240: 3127: 3116: 2988: 2952:. The term "Holy See" (i.e. of Rome) is generally used only of the Pope and the curia, because the 2626: 2567: 2426: 2174: 1977: 1889: 1864: 1786: 1614: 1541: 1349: 1172: 1005: 325: 127: 5245: 5221: 2671:) or to carry out a function in a broader field of service to the church, such as appointments as 302: 9373: 9005: 8966: 8933: 8379: 8359: 8227: 8105: 8055: 7834: 7635: 7575: 6643: 5077: 4964: 4943: 4772: 4428: 4151: 4119: 4094: 4083: 4067: 3910:- a list of priests who may be suitable for the office of bishop. This is forwarded to the local 3880: 3815: 3795:

privilege granted by the Holy See or by an approved custom. The title is usually assigned to the

3524: 3215: 2815: 2571: 1874: 1659: 1026: 703: 330: 5072: 4090: 4079: 3964:). In addition, it is held by certain other bishops, referred to as "Titular Archbishops" (see " 3269: 167: 9442: 9383: 9378: 9012: 8818: 8739: 8664: 8544: 8222: 8110: 8050: 7727: 7615: 7342: 7200: 7183: 7167: 7150: 7114: 7074: 7057: 7034: 6937: 6660: 6554:(2 immediately subject to the Holy See, 2 immediately subject to Eastern Catholic patriarchs), 6539: 5872: 5792: 5760: 5678: 5646: 5588: 5438: 5031: 4991: 4546: 4541:. He also appoints six to twelve priests from the presbyteral council to serve as a college of 4487: 4461: 4143: 4024: 3984: 3977: 3892: 3804: 3739: 3707: 3656: 3643: 3222: 3168: 3105: 3072: 2964: 2953: 2846: 2487: 2101: 1368: 953: 693: 404: 122: 19: 5503: 4706:

until a 1969 reform), the lowest level, distinguished by purple buttons and trim on the black

4584:

This section concerns the priest who in the 1983 Code of Canon Law is referred to by the term

4049:, in charge of an area, which in mission countries can be quite vast, associated with an abbey 1879: 9147: 8974: 8399: 8180: 8045: 7891: 7597: 7535: 7494: 7479: 6373: 4726: 4409: 4035: 3915: 3747: 3731: 3053: 2866: 2541: 1834: 1681: 1590: 1531: 1521: 1449: 1430: 1416: 1157: 1118: 1108: 539: 4191:, a see that in the course of history has ceased to exist as an actual jurisdictional unit. 3566: 3307:

for their major archbishop. With few exceptions, the authority of a major archbishop in his

475: 8551: 8520: 8417: 8298: 8212: 8092: 7995: 7712: 7707: 7630: 7580: 7511: 7489: 5426: 5107: 4885: 4761:(the latter are now called diocesan administrators) are titular (not actual) Protonotaries 4440: 4432: 4267: 4129: 4101: 4060: 3860: 3672: 3179: 2986:

The present rules governing the election of a pope are found in the apostolic constitution

2683: 2632: 2598: 2529: 2028: 2002: 1884: 1701: 1669: 1551: 1406: 1214: 1182: 1113: 899: 776: 651: 636: 409: 389: 350: 172: 110: 7339:

Book II: The People of God Liber II. De Populo Dei, Part II: The Hierarchical Constitution

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As bishop of the Church of Rome, he is successor to the co-patrons of that local church,

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and meet periodically to discuss current problems. Decisions in certain fields, notably

362: 9360: 9177: 8035: 8027: 7770: 7471: 7438: 6910: 4225: 4195: 3837:, exarchs, whether apostolic or patriarchal, do not hold authority over other bishops ( 3659:

are princes of the church appointed by the Pope. He generally chooses bishops who head

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in 2013. Approximately 10% of all popes left or were removed from office before death.

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of Italy and is empowered to appoint the president of the Italian Bishops' Conference.

2636: 2069: 1942: 1809: 1599: 1464: 1439: 1421: 1162: 1130: 1123: 1090: 626: 502: 434: 259: 115: 5267: 9320: 8556: 7881: 7761: 7528: 7484: 7367: 6856:"Pope abolishes honorary title of monsignor for diocesan priests under the age of 65" 6801: 6757: 6601: 6519: 5948: 5820: 5718: 5509: 5445: 5298: 5112: 5082: 5052: 4980: 4534: 4530: 4519: 4470: 4436: 4372: 4281: 4231: 4207: 4136: 4070:, in charge of a geographical area that for serious reasons cannot be made a diocese. 4046: 4020: 3888: 3826: 3771: 3695: 3042: 3020: 3011:, though unlike other bishops, it is not required. The best known cases are those of 3008: 2544:

sense of the term, "hierarchy" strictly means the "holy ordering" of the church, the

1952: 1706: 1511: 1488: 1411: 1307: 1256: 1073: 781: 276: 192: 157: 4918:, serving the church pastorally, administratively, and in other ways, including the 4391:

The Catholic Church and the ancient Christian Churches see priestly ordination as a

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The 1917 Code of Canon Law, continuing the tradition observed, for instance, at the

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to whom is delegated the bishop's ordinary power to judge cases (canon 1420 of the

4254: 4199: 4176: 4167: 4108: 3791: 3491:, while the other patriarchs are the archbishops of the named cities. The title of 3364: 3294: 3016: 3012: 2893: 2819: 2761: 2746: 2668: 2664: 2586: 2548:, so to respect the diversity of gifts and ministries necessary for genuine unity. 2245: 2204: 2194: 2184: 1972: 1859: 1819: 1696: 1604: 1516: 1401: 1224: 1140: 1078: 926: 490: 249: 244: 234: 229: 224: 152: 8422: 7328: 7109: 7069: 7046: 7023: 6948: 6430: 6367: 4771:. (Honorary titles such as that of "Monsignor" are not considered appropriate for 2702:

and existing bishops who rise to those offices do not require further ordination.

182: 9417: 9300: 9157: 9122: 8928: 8923: 8848: 8843: 8784: 8709: 8459: 8389: 7921: 7862: 7412: 7320: 7252: 7053: 7030: 7011: 6989: 6968: 6832: 6710: 6692: 6628: 6590: 6464:"To choose a bishop: A man for the Church, not a "ladder-climber" - Vatican News" 6233: 6222: 6161: 6137: 6113: 6089: 6065: 6041: 5901:

Orthodoxy and the Roman Papacy: Ut Unum Sint and the Prospects of East-West Unity

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in an area situated within the home territory of that patriarchal Eastern Church.

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Three other of the pope's offices stem directly from his office as bishop of the

2862: 2738: 2731: 2640: 2552: 2344: 2189: 2121: 2116: 2007: 1781: 1711: 1481: 1392: 1177: 1013: 671: 372: 219: 137: 6499: 6495: 6480: 6476: 6387: 6260: 6245: 6207: 6192: 6177: 6006: 5978: 5529: 5461: 2967:, a reminder that in Christianity, leadership is always about service/ministry ( 2810:(6:57). In the East, "pope" is still a common form of address for clergy in the 2605:(priests may administer this sacrament with prior ecclesiastical approval), and 512: 9335: 9264: 9112: 9047: 8833: 8823: 8809: 8794: 8474: 8369: 8253: 8232: 7766: 7645: 7620: 7592: 7523: 7296: 6348: 6313: 5291: 4901: 4538: 4483: 4316: 4295: 3703: 3676: 3032: 2993: 2801: 2687: 2545: 2220: 2199: 2162: 2152: 2079: 2074: 1987: 1915: 1738: 1686: 1571: 1546: 1476: 1290: 1145: 866: 846: 841: 581: 554: 419: 414: 239: 105: 100: 6296:(at "Structure of the Church: The Roman Curia and the College of Cardinals"). 4986:

Religious institutes have historically been subdivided into the categories of

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In the Eastern Catholic Churches, they are called protosyncelli and syncelli (

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in an area that is situated outside the home territory of that Eastern Church.

3537: 2937:(754–1870), so do they exercise absolute civil authority in the microstate of 2749: 9467: 9227: 9187: 9072: 8994: 8979: 8828: 8789: 8595: 8479: 8276: 7945: 7660: 7354: 5318: 5185: 4790: 4754: 4456: 4419:

Long-term assignments include serving the universal church on the staff of a

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would no longer have the major order of subdiaconate, but it permitted any

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or in the diplomatic corps of the Holy See. They may also be appointed the

4203: 4155: 3969: 3896: 3711: 3197: 2938: 2934: 2922: 2881: 2870: 2780: 2757: 2723: 2672: 2314: 2131: 2126: 1997: 1992: 1814: 1792: 1691: 1635: 1229: 1050: 881: 836: 736: 544: 458: 453: 441: 132: 5414: 4412:

in Rome. They may also include short-term assignments to the faculty of a

4344:

are ordinaries of their respective memberships, but not local ordinaries.

996: 29: 9398: 9254: 9127: 9107: 9102: 9097: 9082: 8384: 8319: 8175: 8100: 8078: 7926: 7688: 7650: 5418: 5392: 4750: 4424: 4230:

Local ordinaries are placed over or exercise ordinary executive power in

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Some of the Eastern Catholic Churches of Syriac tradition use the title

4158:, or even a diocese whose bishop is incapacitated or otherwise impeded. 2577:

All clergy, including deacons, priests, and bishops, may preach, teach,

9092: 9087: 8911: 8838: 8454: 8374: 8005: 7312: 4832: 4808: 4804: 4796: 4780: 4637:

The parish priest/pastor may be assisted by one or more other priests:

4542: 4499: 4444: 4408:

Temporary assignments may include studying for an advanced degree at a

3983:), though this practice has seen significantly reduced usage since the 3937: 3833:

holding authority over other bishops without being a patriarch. In the

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of the first diocese or the oldest archdiocese in the country. Thus in

3303: 2830: 2698: 2614: 2111: 1839: 1829: 1581: 1556: 1325: 921: 821: 816: 766: 751: 746: 465: 382: 209: 197: 4537:(so called after their chapter). These priests are given the title of 3282: 9197: 9192: 9162: 8858: 8621: 8605: 8590: 8434: 8324: 8202: 8192: 8060: 7839: 5422: 5039: 5035: 4915: 4862: 4731: 4677: 4420: 4392: 4385: 4250: 3660: 3046: 3037: 2885: 2797: 2753: 2647:

The typical role of a bishop is to provide pastoral governance for a

2136: 1576: 1493: 1454: 1373: 933: 876: 826: 806: 681: 517: 480: 470: 424: 394: 367: 307: 7280: 5441:

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 1969–2002: A Commentary

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Ambassadors are accredited not to the Vatican City State but to the

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Council of Trent, session XXIII, canon VI on the sacrament of Order

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A diocesan bishop may have bishops who assist in his ministry. The

4112: 2930: 2925:, an independent state within the city of Rome, set up by the 1929 2691: 2482: 2240: 1947: 1935: 1800: 1312: 1204: 948: 801: 571: 507: 340: 56: 7381: 3045:

consisting of several local churches (dioceses) have the title of

9142: 7980: 7854: 7797: 7288: 6562:(1 immediately subject to the Holy See, 1 military archdiocese), 6558:(1 immediately subject to the Holy See, 1 military archdiocese), 4923: 4919: 4889: 4854: 4819: 4707: 4508: 4277: 4271: 4264: 4238:

The Supreme Pontiff (the Pope) is a local ordinary for the whole

4000: 3996: 3884: 3868: 3684: 3446: 3415: 2806: 2648: 2578: 2563: 2023: 1930: 1925: 1776: 1285: 811: 429: 292: 264: 254: 5189: 4788:. Other Eastern Catholic Churches bestow the honorific title of 4627:

in the English translation by the Canon Law Society of America).

9295: 8600: 8585: 8529: 8496: 5429:, the Latin text underlying this statement uses the Latin term 5023: 4824: 4681:

is conferred by the Pope upon diocesan priests (not members of

4503:. The person holding this post must be a priest, have earned a 4450: 4364: 3961: 3911: 3830: 3722:, who died in 1899, was the last non-priest cardinal. In 1962, 3715: 3680: 2589:. Only priests and bishops can celebrate the sacraments of the 2562:

As of 31 December 2020, the Catholic Church consisted of 2,903

2537: 688: 656: 616: 485: 377: 147: 142: 6704:

Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canons 78, 152 and 157

6366: 4665:

in the English translation by the Canon Law Society of America

4497:). In the Latin Church, the judicial vicar may also be called 3879:

is the bishop of the principal (the "metropolitan") see of an

2892:

As the first local Church of Italy, the bishop of Rome is the

9393: 8561: 8525: 6574:(immediately subject to an Eastern Catholic major archbishop) 5915:"Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church 5555: 5553: 5019: 5003: 4553: 4529:

The diocesan bishop may appoint priests to be members of the

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of a personal apostolic administration: only one exists, the

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