Global organisation of the Roman Catholic Church
Encyclopedia
The Catholic Church is organised in a worldwide hierarchy
under the pope
, and the Roman Curia
.
Patriarch
s are the heads of some of the Catholic Churches other than the Latin Church. Some senior Roman Catholic archbishop
s are also called Patriarchs. Archbishop
s and Bishop
s administer individual diocese
s as successors of the twelve apostles. As such they are responsible for the appointment and supervision of parish
priest
s, and the oversight of all church affairs within their diocese.
The Catholic Church is organised into local hierarchies within each nation, or group of smaller nations. National Conferences of bishops
co-ordinate local policy within each nation.
As of 17 April 2011, the ecclesiastical jurisdiction statistics is as follows; 13 Patriarchate
s, 2 Major Archdiocese
s, 542 Metropolitan Archdioceses, 80 Archdioceses, 2,179 Diocese
s, 47 Prelatures, 10 Territorial Abbeys, 17 Apostolic Exarchates, 8 Ordinariates, 36 Military Ordinariate
s, 84 Apostolic Vicariate
s, 38 Apostolic Prefectures, 10 Apostolic Administrations, and 9 Missions 'sui juris'
.
Asia
Central America
Europe
North America
Oceania
South America
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
under the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, and the Roman Curia
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
.
Patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
s are the heads of some of the Catholic Churches other than the Latin Church. Some senior Roman Catholic archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
s are also called Patriarchs. Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
s and Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s administer individual diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s as successors of the twelve apostles. As such they are responsible for the appointment and supervision of parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s, and the oversight of all church affairs within their diocese.
The Catholic Church is organised into local hierarchies within each nation, or group of smaller nations. National Conferences of bishops
Episcopal Conference
In the Roman Catholic Church, an Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, or National Conference of Bishops is an official assembly of all the bishops of a given territory...
co-ordinate local policy within each nation.
As of 17 April 2011, the ecclesiastical jurisdiction statistics is as follows; 13 Patriarchate
Patriarchate
A patriarchate is the office or jurisdiction of a patriarch. A patriarch, as the term is used here, is either* one of the highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, earlier, the five that were included in the Pentarchy: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, but now nine,...
s, 2 Major Archdiocese
Major Archiepiscopal Church
Major archiepiscopal churches are the Eastern Catholic Churches governed by the major archbishops, assisted by the respective synod of bishops. These churches also have almost the same rights and obligations of patriarchal churches...
s, 542 Metropolitan Archdioceses, 80 Archdioceses, 2,179 Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s, 47 Prelatures, 10 Territorial Abbeys, 17 Apostolic Exarchates, 8 Ordinariates, 36 Military Ordinariate
Military ordinariate
A military ordinariate is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church, of Latin or Eastern Rite, responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics serving in the armed forces of a nation....
s, 84 Apostolic Vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
s, 38 Apostolic Prefectures, 10 Apostolic Administrations, and 9 Missions 'sui juris'
Mission sui iuris
A mission sui iuris, or in Latin missio sui iuris, also known as an independent mission, is a rare type of Roman Catholic missionary pseudo-diocesan jurisdiction in an area with very few Catholics, often desolate or remote....
.
Catholicism by region
Africa
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Asia
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| Roman Catholicism in Laos The Roman Catholic Church in Laos is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.The Roman Catholic Church is officially recognized by the LFNC... Roman Catholicism in Lebanon The Roman Catholic Church in Lebanon is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.... Roman Catholicism in Macau The Roman Catholic Church in Macau is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.... Roman Catholicism in Malaysia The Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.... Roman Catholicism in Mongolia The Roman Catholic Church in Mongolia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome... Roman Catholicism in Myanmar The Roman Catholic Church in Burma is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. The church is overseen by an Apostolic Delegate. As of 2006 the delegate is Salvatore Pennacchio, who is also the Apostolic Nuncio of Thailand.There are... Roman Catholicism in Nepal The Roman Catholic Church in Nepal is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Vatican City... Roman Catholicism in Pakistan The Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. Pope John Paul II visited Pakistan on February 16, 1981.... Roman Catholicism in the Philippines The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, in full communion with the Pope.With 73.8 million members in 2005, it is the predominant religion, making the Philippines the third largest "Catholic" nation in the world after Brazil and Mexico, as well as one... |
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Central America
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Europe
Roman Catholicism in Europe
The Roman Catholic Church is geographically centered in Holy See of Rome, Italy. About a third of the population of Europe today is Catholic, but only about a quarter of all Catholics worldwide reside in Europe, due to historical missionary activity, especially in South America.-References:*CIA...
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North America
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Oceania
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South America
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See also
- Holy SeeHoly SeeThe Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
- Foreign relations of the Holy SeeForeign relations of the Holy SeeThe Holy See—which must be clearly distinguished from the city-state of Vatican City—has long been recognised as a subject of international law and as an active participant in international relations...
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical) (including archdioceses)
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view) (including archdioceses)
- List of Roman Catholic archdioceses (by country and continent)
- Index of Catholic Church articles
- The term Roman CatholicRoman Catholic (term)The term Roman Catholic appeared in the English language at the beginning of the 17th century, to differentiate specific groups of Christians in communion with the Pope from others; comparable terms in other languages already existed...
- List of popes
- List of living cardinals (sortable by name, country, and birthdate)
- Catholic Church hierarchyCatholic Church hierarchyThe term Hierarchy in the Catholic Church has a variety of related usages. Literally, "holy government", the term is employed in different instances. There is a Hierarchy of Truths, which refers to the levels of solemnity of the official teaching of the faith...