The threefold ministry of bishop, priest or presbyter, and deacon, conferred through the sacrament of Holy Orders, is a structural feature of all the ancient Christian Churches and is considered by them to be of not merely human institution.

Bishop

Bishops, as a body, the College of Bishops, are seen as the successors of the Apostles in teaching, sanctifying and governing the Church.

Among bishops, various ranks are distinguished:

Pope

In Catholic theology, the bishop who is the successor of Saint Peter in the episcopal see of Rome is viewed as the head of the College of Bishops, as Saint Peter was the chief of the Apostles; and communion with him is considered essential for the existence of the College of Bishops (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 880-883). As is stated in canon 331 of the Code of Canon Law and canon 43 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, he has direct authority, not an authority mediated through other bishops, over the whole Church.

The title of Pope (derived from a word for "Father") is the most common title for the bishop of Rome, and, in the traditional Latin abbreviation PP (sometimes lower-case), is used in his official signature, e.g. "Benedictus PP XVI". The honorary title prefixed to his name is "His Holiness".

Patriarchs

The head of some autonomous (in Latin, sui iuris) particular Churches consisting of several local Churches (dioceses) are given the title of Patriarch. The Pope himself was also called the Patriarch of the West, as head of the Latin Rite or Western particular Church, but this title has been dropped for the Pope.

The Patriarchs who head autonomous particular Churches are:

• The Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria (Coptic Catholic Church)
• The Syrian Patriarch of Antioch (Syrian Catholic Church)
• The Greek-Melkite Patriarch of Antioch (Greek-Catholic Melkite Church)
• The Maronite Patriarch of Antioch (Maronite Church)
• The Chaldaean Patriarch of Babilonia (Chaldean Catholic Church]])
• The Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Cilicia (Armenian Catholic Church)

These have authority not only over the bishops of their particular Church, including metropolitans, but also directly over all the faithful (canon 56 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches). The honorary title prefixed to their names is "His Beatitude".

There is also a Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, whose function is that of a diocesan bishop, not than that of the head an autonomous particular Church. The Archbishops of Lisbon and Venice have merely honorary titles of Patriarch, and the Archbishop of Goa holds the honorary title of Patriarch of the East Indies. The title of Patriarch of the West Indies was in the past granted to some Spanish bishops (not always of the same see), but is long in abeyance.

Major Archbishops

Other autonomous particular Churches are headed by a Major Archbishop, a less prestigious title. They too have direct authority over all the faithful of their particular Church (canon 151 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches).

At present, there are four Major Archbishops:

• Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)
• Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church)
• Cyril Mar Baselious, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (Syro-Malankara Catholic Church)
• Lucian Mureşan, Major Archbishop of Făgăraş and Alba Julia (Romanian Byzantine Catholic Church)

Metropolitans

A Latin-Rite Metropolitan is the bishop of the principal (the "metropolitan") see of an ecclesiastical province composed of several dioceses. Canon 436 of the Code of Canon Law describes his very limited authority over the suffragan dioceses.

An Eastern-Rite Metropolitan's authority is much greater (cf. canons 157-172 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches).

All Metropolitans have the title of Archbishop, and the metropolitan see is referred

Archbishops

The title of "Archbishop" is given not only to bishops who head an archdiocese (whether of not it is a metropolitan see), but also to other bishops by reason of their function (for instance, that of a Papal Nuncio) or of personal merit.

Primates

The Latin-Rite title of Primate is in some countries given to the bishop of a particular see. Although in the now distant past the title sometimes implied authority over all the dioceses in the country, the present rule is stated in canon 438 of the Code of Canon Law: "The title of Patriarch or Primate, apart from conferring a prerogative of honour, does not in the Latin Church carry with it any power of governance, except in certain instances where an apostolic privilege or approved custom establishes otherwise."

Diocesan Bishops

The Bishop of any 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 diocese or eparchy, and, as a member of the College of Bishops, shares in responsibility for governance of the whole Church (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 886). As each local particular Church is an embodiment of the whole Catholic Church, not just an administrative subdivision of something larger, the bishop who is its head is not a delegate of the Pope. Instead, he has of himself primary teaching, governance and sanctifying responsibility for the see for which he has been ordained bishop.

Within each diocese, even if the Eucharist is celebrated by another bishop, the necessary communion with the Bishop of the diocese is signified by the mention of his name. In Eastern-Rite eparchies the name of the patriarch, major archbishop or metropolitan is also mentioned, because these also have direct responsibility within all the eparchies of the particular Church in question. For the same reason, every Catholic celebration of the Eucharist has a mention of the Pope by name.

Other Bishops

A Diocesan Bishop may have Assistant Bishops. The Coadjutor Bishop 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) Emeritus of that see. On the other hand, an Auxiliary Bishop is appointed bishop of a titular see, a see that in the course of history has ceased to exist as an actual jurisdictional unit. The titular sees - which may be metropolitan, archiepiscopal or simply episcopal - assigned to such bishops were once known as sees in partibus infidelium, since the bishops were being appointed for sees abandoned as a result of Moslem conquests, but which it was envisaged might some day be restored . These sees are also assigned to bishops who serve in the Roman Curia and as Papal Nuncios.

The term "Titular Bishop" is frequently used for such bishops, but is, strictly speaking, inaccurate, since they are indeed bishops, even if they do not serve the see to which they are appointed, and are not merely holders of an honorary title of bishop. They are members of the College of Bishops as much as the Diocesan Bishops.

In most English-speaking countries, the honorary title prefixed to the name of a bishop is "The Most Reverend". However, in Great Britain and in those countries most strongly influenced by English (not Irish) practice, "The Most Reverend" is reserved for archbishops, and other bishops are called "The Right Reverend".

Positions analogous to that of bishop

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

Cardinals

Cardinals are appointed by the Pope, generally choosing bishops who head departments of the Roman Curia or important episcopal sees, Latin or Eastern, throughout the world.

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 "suburbicarian" sees. Because of their resulting importance, the term "cardinal" (from Latin "cardo", meaning "hinge") was applied to them. In the twelfth century the practice of appointing ecclesiastics from outside Rome as cardinals began. Each

Since a reform by Pope Paul VI a priest who has been nominated a cardinal is required to be ordained a bishop. (In previous centuries there were cases of cardinals who only had minor orders.) One such priest asked for and obtained dispensation from this requirement.

The proper way to refer to a Cardinal in English, and in other modern languages, is not, as some believe, "(First name) Cardinal (Surname)" - though this is the traditional way for Cardinals to sign, placing, like the Pope, the title immediately after the first name - but simply "Cardinal (First name) (Surname)."

Equivalents of Diocesan Bishops in law

Canon 368 of the Code of Canon Law lists five Latin-Rite jurisdictional areas that are considered as equivalent to a diocese. These are headed by:

• A Territorial Prelate, formerly called a Prelate nullius dioceseos (of no diocese), in charge of a geographical area that has not yet been raised to the level of diocese
• A Territorial Abbot, in charge of an area, which in mission countries can be quite vast, associated with an abbey
• A Vicar Apostolic (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
• A Prefect Apostolic (usually not a bishop), in charge of an apostolic prefecture, not yet ready to be made an apostolic vicariate
• A Permanent Apostolic Administrator, in charge of a geographical area that for serious reasons cannot be made a diocese.

To these may be added:

• An Apostolic Exarch or Ordinary for Eastern-Rite Faithful
• A Military Ordinary
• A Personal Prelate, in charge of a group of persons without regard to geography: the only personal prelature existing is that of Opus Dei.
• An Apostolic Administrator of a Personal Apostolic Administration: only one exists, the Personal Apostolic Administration of Saint John Mary Vianney
• A Superior of an autonomous mission

Of somewhat similar standing is the Diocesan Administrator (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 Code of Canon Law).

Occasionally an Apostolic Administrator is appointed by the Holy See to run a vacant diocese, or even a diocese whose bishop is incapacitated or otherwise impeded.

Other titles or functions usually but not necessarily held by bishops include those of Apostolic Delegate, Apostolic Nuncio, Papal Legate, Patriarchal Vicar, Pontifical Delegate.

Positions within a diocese at diocesan level

"In each diocese the Diocesan Bishop is to appoint a Vicar General to assist him in the governance of the whole diocese .. As a general rule, one Vicar General is to be appointed, unless the size of the diocese, the number of inhabitants, or other pastoral reasons suggest otherwise" (canon 475 of the Code of Canon Law).

"As often as the good governance of the diocese requires it, the Diocesan Bishop can also appoint one or more Episcopal Vicars. They have the same ordinary power as the universal law gives to a Vicar General .. The competence of an Episcopal Vicar, however, is limited to a determined part of the diocese, or to a specific type of activity, or to the faithful of a particular rite, or to certain groups of people" (canon 476 of the Code of Canon Law).

Vicars General and Episcopal Vicars may be priests or bishops. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, they are called Protosyncelli and Syncelli.

Priests

Priests may perform many functions not directly connected with ordinary pastoral activity, such as study, research, teaching or office work. They may also be rectors of churches or chaplains of communities or special groups. Other titles or functions held by priests include those of Archimandrite, Canon Secular or Regular, Chancellor, Chorbishop, Confessor, Dean of a Cathedral Chapter, Hieromonk, Prebendary, Precentor, etc.

Priests directly involved in parish work

Parish Priests or Pastors

"The Parish Priest or Pastor 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, sanctifying and ruling with the cooperation of other priests or deacons and with the assistance of lay members of the Christian faithful, in accordance with the law" (canon 519 of the Code of Canon Law).

For lack of priests, sometimes a parish may be entrusted for a time, short or long, to a priest who is not its Parish Priest or Pastor, or to a deacon or a religious, male or female, or even to a lay person. These do not thereby become the Pastor of the parish.

Assistant Priests or Curates

"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, to labour in the pastoral ministry" (canon 545 of the Code of Canon Law). In some English-speaking countries, Assistant Priests are called Curates or Associate Pastors.

Vicars Forane or Deans

"The Vicar Forane known also as the Dean or the Archpriest or by some other title, is the priests who is placed in charge of a vicariate forane" (canon 553 of the Code of Canon Law), 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.

Papal awards for clergy (title of Monsignor)

A detailed account of the three ranks of membership of the Papal Household (as Protonotary Apostolic, Honorary Prelate or Chaplain of His Holiness) that allow priests to use the title of Monsignor is found in the article Monsignor

Deacons

Deacons 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 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.

They may be seminarians preparing for ordination to the priesthood, "transitional deacons"; or they may be "permanent deacons", not intending 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 old and have the consent of his wife.

Religious and Laity

Some religious superiors are classified as major superiors. They include superiors general, with various titles, such as Abbot Primate, Abbot General, Prevost General, Abbot Ordinary, Grand Master, Master General, Abbot General, Archabbot, Prior Administrator, Prior General, Father Major, Minister General (to mention only those titles that appear in the first few of the 71 pages of the Annuario Pontificio needed to list just the male religious orders). Other major superiors may be provincial or regional superiors, often with distinctive titles echoing those of the superiors general. Each community of religious has its own local superior, who is not classified as a major superior. In addition, the chief assistant of a superior has titles such as vicar or sub-prioress. Others still have the rank of counsellor, either at general, provincial, or regional level, with titles that vary according to the tradition of the order. Religious may be professed with perpetual or only temporary vows. An order may also have novices and aspirants, as well as scholastics.

The laity also have within the Church a great variety of ranks, titles and functions. These include those of acolyte, altar server, cantor, catechist, choir master or mistress, debtera (Ethiopic rite), extraordinary minister of the Holy Communion, Gentleman of His Holiness, lector, member of a papal order of chivalry (Dame or Knight), sacristan, seminarian (major or minor), usher.