Catholic church hierarchy
Catholic Church hierarchy
In its application to the Catholic Church, the term hierarchy originally refered to the "holy ordering" of the entire People of God. Pseudo-Dionysius is credited as the first to attribute a specific hierachy to the church. Christians were found in one of three orders: The Laity, The Religious, The Clergy. None of these orders was to be considered holier than the other; holiness was to be obtained within the order you found yourself in. Though lost for several centuries due to the growing association of hierarchy with lines of authority, this idea has been recaptured by Vatican II.
Over time, the term became associated more specificly with those members of the church who were called to positions of leadership, and is now used to describe the ordered body of clergy and ministers that serve the Church. In the vernacular, it is often used interchangably with the term Magisterium, which refers to the teaching authority of the college of bishops and the pope together. All churches that adopt a "catholic principle" of ecclesial order - Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, etc- acknowledge a threefold hierarchical order which was divinely inspired and therefore a permanent structural feature of the church:
- Bishops [including the Pope, who is Bishop of Rome]
- Presbyters [a.k.a. Priests]
- Deacons
In addition to the threefold order inspired by God, several offices and titles have arisen over the two millenia history of the church. These reflect the influence of the structures of the Imperial Rome, medieval feudalism, and modern reforms. The list below includes virtually all of the titles, both functional and honorary, that are in use in the Catholic church today. They are ordered according to the hierarchy of honor (or ceremonial protocol).
Ecclesiastical offices in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church
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.
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. Cardinal-bishops are typically the dean of the college, 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 or extraordinary theolgians and make up the bulk of the college of cardinals. Cardinal-deacons are the presidents of other dicasteries and offices in the Roman curia.
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:
Major Archbishops
Major Archbishop is a title used for bishops who hold the same authority of jurisdiction as a Patriarch, but whos 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 three in the Catholic Church:
- Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, Major Archibishop of Kiev-Halych of the Ukrainian Catholic Church
- Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
- Cyril Mar Baselious, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Primates
Primate is an honory title usually reserved for the bishop of the oldest diocese in a country or region. Historically, this honor sometimes carried certain priveledges, 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 priveledges (and protocol) are carried by the President of the National Conference of Bishops.
Archbishops and Metropolitans
In the Roman Catholic Church, the office of Archbishop or Metropolitan is synonomous, 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.
Titular Archbishops
A purely honorary use of the title Archbishop given to some officials of the Roman Curia, to Papal Nuncios, and Cardinal-Bishops who are not Patriarchs of Eastern Catholic Churches. They are given the title attached to an Archdiocese that has been suppressed or abandoned, known as a titular see. (For example, the Archdiocese of Ostia, the titular see that Pope Benedict XVI held before his election as pope.)
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, posess 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 (technicly, priests 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 US and ordained in 1789. At that time only about two dozen bishops in the world were appointed by Rome, the rest were elected locally.
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.
Superiors General of Religious Orders
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 institute. 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.
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.
Archimandrate
Archimandrate is a title generally used in the Eastern Catholic Churches to designate an abbot with supervision over several other abbots and their monasteries.
Abbot (or Abbess) Nullius
Abbot Nullius is a title for Abbots who have authority over the parishes and lay people in a territory surrounding thier abbey in addition to the ordinary authority they have over their monastery.
Abbot or Abbess
Abbots are leaders of a male monastic community (monks), an Abbess is the equivalent leader of a female monastic community (nuns).
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.
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.
Prefect Apostolic
This is a priest with the same responsibilities as a Vicar Apostolic, but who is not a prelate.
Diocesean Administrator
Formerly known as an apostolic administrator, or vicar capitular, the diocesan administrator is the interim head of a diocese 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.
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.
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.
Vicars Episcopal
Usually refered 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.
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 thier 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.
Protonotary Apostolic
The first and least common of three categories that are refered 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.
Provincial Superior
An official with responsibility and authority over the members of a religious institute within a province or region, and supervisory of the local superiors.
Vicars Forane (Deans)
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.
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.
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 for senior priests of the diocese.
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.
Archpriests
In addition to the archpriests who serve as vicars forane, this title is given sometimes as a purely honorary one.
Archdeacons
This title is used in the Eastern Catholic Churches by three different offices:
- The principal deacon in a Byzantine monastery.
- An honorary title confered upon senior Byzantine deacons.
- 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.
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 refered 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.
Local Superior
An official who exercises leadership of a house or local community of an institute of apostolic life.
Hieromonks
The Byzantine term for a priest who serves a monastic community.
Parochial Vicars
Sometimes refered 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".
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 thier ministry without compensation are often simply refered 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Links
For more information consult the following links:
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