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On the other hand, titles such as archbishop or patriarch imply no ontological alteration, and existing bishops who rise to those offices do not require further ordination. Ordination 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. 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 Holy See.īishops 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. Decisions in certain fields, notably liturgy, fall within the exclusive competence of these conferences. Other bishops may be appointed to assist ordinaries ( auxiliary bishops and coadjutor bishops) or to carry out a function in a broader field of service to the Church, such as appointments as papal nuncios or as officials in the Roman Curia.īishops of a country or region may form an episcopal conference and meet periodically to discuss current problems. These bishops may be known as hierarchs in the Eastern Catholic Churches. Bishops who fulfill this function are known as diocesan ordinaries, because they have what canon law calls ordinary (i.e. The typical role of a bishop is to provide pastoral governance for a diocese. The Pope himself is a bishop (the bishop of Rome) and traditionally uses the title "Venerable Brother" when writing formally to another bishop. The bishops, who possess the fullness of orders, and therefore the fullness of both priesthood and diaconate, are as a body (the College of Bishops) considered the successors of the Apostles 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 2014, there were 5,237 Catholic bishops. Women are excluded from the hierarchy of clergy. Only bishops can administer the sacrament of Holy Orders, by which men are ordained as bishops, priests or deacons. Only priests and bishops can celebrate the sacraments of the Eucharist (though others may be ministers of Holy Communion), Penance (Reconciliation, Confession), Confirmation (priests may administer this sacrament with prior ecclesiastical approval), and Anointing of the Sick. Īll clergy, including deacons, priests, and bishops, may preach, teach, baptize, witness marriages, and conduct funeral liturgies. Approximately 22% of all parishes do not have a resident pastor, and 3,485 parishes worldwide are entrusted to a deacon or lay ecclesial minister. Ordinarily, care of a parish is entrusted to a priest, though there are exceptions. Dioceses are divided into individual communities called parishes, each staffed by one or more priests, deacons, or lay ecclesial ministers. Īs of 31 December 2020, the Catholic Church consisted of 2,903 dioceses or equivalent jurisdictions, each overseen by a bishop. The term "hierarchy" became popular only in the sixth century, due to the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius. The term "pope" was still used loosely until the sixth century, being at times assumed by other bishops. Accordingly, "hierarchy of the Catholic Church" is also used to refer to the bishops alone. In the Catholic Church, authority rests chiefly with the bishops, while priests and deacons serve as their assistants, co-workers or helpers.
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In canonical and general usage, it refers to those who exercise authority within a Christian church. In the ecclesiological sense of the term, "hierarchy" strictly means the "holy ordering" of the Church, the Body of Christ, so to respect the diversity of gifts and ministries necessary for genuine unity ( 1 Cor 12). The hierarchy of the Catholic Church consists of its bishops, priests, and deacons.