Catholic church hierarchy: Encyclopedia II - Catholic church hierarchy - Ecclesiastical offices in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church

Catholic church hierarchy - Ecclesiastical offices in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church

Catholic church hierarchy - Patriarchs

Patriarch is the title for the highest-ranking bishop of an autonomous church or federation of local eparchies (dioceses) with effective jurisdiction over all its bishops.

The Pope, as bishop of Rome, is the Patriarch of the Latin Rite (Roman) Catholic Church. As such he is also the first ranked among the patriarchs and head of the college of bishops in the entire Catholic Church. Most of his authority and the daily activity of the roman curia are in fact functions of his responsibilities as Patriarch of the West, rather than as visible head of the whole Church.

In fact, "Pope" is only an unofficial title, deriving from the word for "father". His official offices/titles include: bishop of Rome, Vicar of Peter, Vicar of Jesus the Christ, Successor of the Chief of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City-State, and Servant of the Servants of God.

Other patriarchs lead large sui juris Eastern Rite Churchs, including the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria and the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch.

Catholic church hierarchy - Cardinals

Cardinal is the honorary title given to a member of the College of Cardinals that act as the pope's closest advisors in the governance of the Latin Rite (Roman) Church, and who are best known for their obligation to elect new popes in conclave.

There are three ranks of cardinals, parallel to the hierarchy of the church: cardinal-bishops, cardinal-presbyters, and cardinal-deacons. It should be clear, however, that all Cardinals, regardless of rank in the College of Cardinals are bishops by default, though there are rare exceptions when some men raised to the Cardinalate request the Pope to be dispensed of Episcopal Consecration.

Cardinal-bishops are typically the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the prefects of the major dicasteries in the Roman Curia known as Congregations, and Patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Cardinal-presbyters are typically archbishops of dioceses around the world, extraordinary theolgians, or former cardinal-deacons who have served for over ten years, and make up the bulk of the college of cardinals. Cardinal-deacons are the presidents of other dicasteries and offices in the Roman Curia.

The proper way to refer to a Cardinal is "(First name) Cardinal (Surname)."

Catholic church hierarchy - Minor Patriarchs or Titular Patriarchs

Within the Roman Catholic Church, a few bishops have been granted the purely honorary title of Patriarch. To distinguish from those Patriarchs who have authority over an entire church, these are known as Minor, or Titular ("in title only") Patriarchs. They include:

• Patriarch of Venice (formerly Patriarch of Grado)
• Patriarch of the West Indies (resides in Spain)
• Patriarch of the East Indies (Archbishop of Goa)
• Patriarch of Lisbon
• Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Catholic church hierarchy - Major Archbishops

Major Archbishop is a title used for bishops who hold the same authority of jurisdiction as a Patriarch, but whose See lacks the same prestige or antiquity. Like patriarchs they are elected by a synod of the bishops of their autonomous church, but unlike patriarchs this election requires confirmation by the Pope. There are currently four in the Catholic Church:

1. Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, Major Archibishop of Kiev-Halych of the Ukrainian Catholic Church
2. Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
3. Cyril Mar Baselious, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
4. Lucian Muresan, Major Archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Julia of the Romanian Catholic Church

Catholic church hierarchy - Primates

Primate is an honorary title usually reserved for the bishop of the oldest diocese in a country or region. Historically, this honor sometimes carried certain privileges, such as chairing a synod or council of that regions bishops. For example, the primatal see of the US is Baltimore, which gave its name to the national catechism that was adopted in 1885 at the Third Council of Baltimore. In many regions today, the title is not used at all and the privileges (and protocol) are carried by the President of the National Conference of Bishops.

Catholic church hierarchy - Archbishops and Metropolitans

In the Latin rite, the office of Archbishop or Metropolitan is synonymous, and refers to those bishops who have a limited supervisory authority over the other bishops in their ecclesiastical province, a structure derivative of imperial Rome. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, there is sometimes a distinction between the two which generally parallels the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

For example, the Archbishop of Seattle is Metropolitan of the Province of Seattle which includes the dioceses of Seattle, Yakima, and Spokane; the entire state of Washington in the United States.

Catholic church hierarchy - Titular Archbishops

A purely honorary use of the title Archbishop given to some officials of the Roman Curia and to Papal Nuncios. They are given the title attached to an Archdiocese that has been suppressed or abandoned, known as a titular see.

Catholic church hierarchy - Bishops and Eparchs

Bishops are the pastoral leaders of a diocese or eparchy. They are also members of the college of bishops and as a college responsible for governance of the universal church. A diocese is a portion of the People of God that, with their bishop, possess all the constitutive marks of the Catholic Church and are therefore a particular church in their own right rather than merely an administrative subdivision of the universal church. Bishops are therefore the source of all ordinary authority and jurisdiction for their own diocese, and not delegates or middle-management functionaries of the pope. At the same time, their authority comes from being ordained to the order of bishops, rather than being regarded as bishops unto themselves. They are not Vicars of the Pope, but rather Vicars of Christ himself.

Bishops are chiefly responsible for the teaching of the faith, the pastoral leadership of the diocese, and are the chief presiders and liturgists. They are the ordinary ministers of the sacraments of Holy Orders, Confirmation, and the Eucharist (technically, presbyters only preside at Eucharist by delegation).

Traditionally, bishops were elected through a process of discerment or acclamation that included the clergy of a diocese and frequently all the baptized people of a diocese. They were then ordained by the metropolitan and other bishops from the surrounding ecclesiastical province. It is only in the two centuries since the French Revolution and the rapid growth of secular democracies that most episcopocal offices have been appointed by the pope in the Latin Rite Church.

For example, Bishop John Carroll was elected by the clergy of the United States and ordained in 1789. At that time only about two dozen bishops in the world were appointed by Rome, the rest were elected locally.

Catholic church hierarchy - Titular Bishops

Like titular Archbishops, this is a purely honorary use of the title bishop, usually given to auxiliary bishops and those cardinals who are not bishops in function.

Catholic church hierarchy - Superiors General of Religious Orders

A superior-general, or similar office, is the highest official in an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life, who exercises authority over all the provinces, houses, and individuals in the order. The title, terms, and details of office vary from each institute and are governed by particular law. Depending on the order, this may be a priest, deacon, or nonordained member of the community.

Catholic church hierarchy - Prelate Nullius

Literally, a prelate without a diocese. He is the head of a territory independent from, but otherwise equivalent to a diocese. The prelate governs with many powers similar to a bishop. Another term for this is a territorial prelature.

Catholic church hierarchy - Archimandrite

Archimandrite is a title generally used in the Eastern Catholic Churches to designate an abbot with supervision over several other abbots and their monasteries.

Catholic church hierarchy - Abbot or Abbess Nullius

Abbot Nullius is a title for Abbots who have authority over the parishes and lay people in a territory surrounding their abbey in addition to the ordinary authority they have over their monastery.

Catholic church hierarchy - Abbot or Abbess

Abbots are leaders of a male monastic community (monks), an Abbess is the equivalent leader of a female monastic community (nuns).

Catholic church hierarchy - Exarch

In the Eastern Catholic Churches, an Exarch governs an exarchy, which is a portion of the People of God that because of particular circumstances has not been erected as an ordinary diocese or eparchy. The exarch governs not in his own right, but as a delegate of the authority who appointed him.

Catholic church hierarchy - Vicar Apostolic

The Roman Catholic Church equivalent of an exarch, the vicar apostolic is a prelate appointed by the pope to govern a territory that has not yet become a diocese for some reason, such as a lack of sufficient ministers or material resources.

Catholic church hierarchy - Prefect Apostolic

A Prefect Apostolic is a priest with the same responsibilities as a Vicar Apostolic, but who is not a prelate.

Catholic church hierarchy - Diocesean Administrator

An apostolic administrator , vicar capitular, or diocesean administrator, is an interim head of a diocese during a period sede vacante, appointed until a bishop can be named. Though he has full authority for the day-to-day governance of the diocese, major appointments and decisions must wait until a new ordinary is named.

Catholic church hierarchy - Prefect of a Personal Prelature

A bishop who leads a personal prelature, which is a society of diocesean ('secular') clergy established by the pope for the purpose of providing an equitable distribution of clergy or to perform particular apostolic works. The first (and so far only) personal prelature is Opus Dei.

Catholic church hierarchy - Vicars General

Vicars General are auxiliary bishops or presbyters who function as the bishops deputy for the regular administration of the diocese. They hold wide-ranging ordinary power and can act in the name of the bishop, and will govern the diocese in any temporary or unexpected absence. Sometimes the Vicar General also acts as Moderator of the Curia, a kind of Chief of Staff to the bishop.

Catholic church hierarchy - Vicars Episcopal

Usually referred to as Episcopal Vicars, this is an auxiliary bishop who serves as the bishop's deputy for a particular geographic region within the diocese, or for a particular population of people within the diocese, e.g., Hispanics.

Catholic church hierarchy - Vicars Canonical

A presbyter or auxiliary bishop who serves on the bishops curia and has responsibility for a particular area of ministry or governance, e.g., the Judicial Vicar, or Vicar for Education.

In many dioceses some of these functions are performed by deacons, religious or lay ecclesial ministers in which case their titles may be "Bishop's Delegate for Liturgy" or "Diocesan Director of Education". They are to be regarded with the same status as the priests who would hold the same function.

Catholic church hierarchy - Protonotary Apostolic

The first and least common of three categories that are referred to as "Monsignor". There are two kinds of Protonotary Apostolic. The first, numeraries, are actual clerks of the Roman Curia (somewhat like the chancellor of a diocesan chancery). The second, supernumeraries, are purely honorary.

Catholic church hierarchy - Provincial Superior

A provincial superior, often shortened to simply "provincial", is an official with responsibility and authority over the members of a religious institute within a province or region, and supervisory of the local superiors.

Catholic church hierarchy - Vicars Forane Deans

A vicar forane is a presbyter who functions as the head of a deanery, generally a grouping of 10-20 parishes within the diocese. More commonly called a dean, they have some limited responsibilities within this deanery, and are often named as consultors to the bishop. In some Eastern Catholic Churches this official is known as an Archpriest.

Catholic church hierarchy - Prelates of Honor of His Holiness

The second and most common category of priests known as "monsignors". It is a purely honorary title given by the Holy See at the request of a diocesean bishop.

Catholic church hierarchy - Canons

A Canon is a diocesean presbyter attached to the cathedral whose duty as a member of the cathedral chapter is to celebrate solemn liturgical functions in the cathedral. This is typically done in dioceses where the cathedral does not also serve as a parish church. It is sometimes used as an honorary title granted by the local Bishop to senior priests of the diocese.

A Canon is properly referred to with the same format of the Cardinals' names, i.e., (First name) Canon (Surname).

Catholic church hierarchy - Chaplains of His Holiness

The third category of priests known as "monsignors". It is an honorary title attached to members of the papal household, formerly known as papal chamberlains.

Catholic church hierarchy - Archpriests

In addition to the archpriests who serve as vicars forane, this title is given sometimes as a purely honorary one.

Catholic church hierarchy - Archdeacons

This title is used in the Eastern Catholic Churches by three different offices:

1. The principal deacon in a Byzantine monastery.
2. An honorary title confered upon senior Byzantine deacons.
3. The title of the principal presbyter in an eparchy of the Caldean or East Syrian Churches, who functions as Master of Ceremonies for the bishop at pontifical liturgies.

Catholic church hierarchy - Pastors

A Pastor is a presbyter who is responsible for the pastoral care of a parish, under the direction of the bishop and in collaboration with the pastoral council and other pastoral ministers assigned to the parish. In addition to his presbyteral ministries, the pastor is responsible for coordinating the overall mission of the parish, encouraging the discernment and development of lay ministries, and overseeing the administration of parish programs, finances, and facilities.

With the decline of presbyters with the gifts needed for this office, in many places deacons, religious, and lay ecclesial ministers are being called on to fulfill this leadership role. They are often referred to as Pastoral Life Directors or Pastoral Coordinators. They are to be regarded with the same status as the priests who would hold the same function.

Catholic church hierarchy - Local Superior

An official who exercises leadership of a house or local community of an institute of apostolic life. A local superior for a community of sisters or nuns is commonly known as a mother superior.

Catholic church hierarchy - Hieromonks

The Byzantine term for a priest who serves a monastic community.

Catholic church hierarchy - Parochial Vicars

Sometimes referred to as Associate Pastors, these are presbyters assigned to a parish to assist the pastor in his responsibilities.

When a deacon, religious, or lay ecclesial minister serves in the same capacity they are typically called Pastoral Associates or Pastoral Assistants, and sometimes have specific responsibilities such as "Director of Faith Formation" or "Coordinator of Youth Ministries".

Catholic church hierarchy - Deacons

Deacons are ordained ministers of the church who are coworkers with the bishop alongside presbyters, but are intended to focus on the ministries of direct service and outreach rather than pastoral leadership. They are usually related to a parish, where they have a liturgical function as the ordinary minister of the Gospel and the Prayers of the Faithful, may preach homilies, and may preside at non-Eucharistic liturgies such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

Deacons who serve in a full-time capacity in a parish or diocese are often accorded the titles noted above. Deacons who are retired or work full time in a secular career and serve in their ministry without compensation are often simply referred to as the parish deacon. These are all also known as permanent deacons.

Transitional deacons are those seminarians who spend a few months to a year as a deacon in a sort of intern period. With the restoration of the permanent diaconate, some theologians and bishops have suggested eliminating the transitional diaconate altogether.

Catholic church hierarchy - Subdeacons

In Eastern Catholic Churches, the subdeacon is a minor order or lay office confered usually on those preparing for priesthood, who serves as an assistant during the liturgy.

Catholic church hierarchy - Diocesean Scholastics

A person who has completed their course of study (usually an M.Div) at a seminary or university divinity program but is not assigned or employed in a pastoral ministry and has not been ordained.

Catholic church hierarchy - Catechists

A lay minister, certified by the diocese to teach the faith. Parochial School teachers, high school theology/religion teachers, and parish youth ministers or teachers in the Parish School of Religion or Faith Formation program are all catechists.

Catholic church hierarchy - Installed Acolyte

Previously a minor order, now a lay office only conferred on seminarians preparing for the priestood. The functions are generally handled in the parish by lay ministers called altar servers.

Catholic church hierarchy - Installed Lector

Previously a minor order, now a lay office only conferred on seminarians preparing for the priesthood. The functions are generally handled in the parish by lay ministers called either lectors or readers.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Ecclesiastical offices in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki