Hierarchy of the Catholic Church

The hierarchy of the Catholic Church consists of its bishops, priests, and deacons.^[1]^[2] 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.

In canonical and general usage, it refers to those who exercise authority within a Christian church.^[3] In the Catholic Church, authority rests chiefly with bishops,^[4] while priests and deacons serve as their assistants, co-workers or helpers.^[5] Accordingly, "hierarchy of the Catholic Church" is also used to refer to the bishops alone.^[6] The term "pope" was still used loosely until the sixth century, being at times assumed by other bishops.^[7] The term "hierarchy" became popular only in the sixth century, due to the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius.^[8]

As of 31 December 2020, the Catholic Church consisted of 2,903 dioceses or equivalent jurisdictions,^[9] each overseen by a bishop. Dioceses are divided into individual communities called parishes, each staffed by one or more priests, deacons, or lay ecclesial ministers.^[10] Ordinarily, care of a parish is entrusted to a priest, though there are exceptions. Approximately 19.3% of all parishes do not have a resident pastor, and 1,948 parishes worldwide are entrusted to a deacon or lay ecclesial minister.^[11]

All clergy, including deacons, priests, and bishops, may preach, teach, baptize, witness marriages, and conduct funeral liturgies.^[12] Only priests and bishops can celebrate the sacraments of the Eucharist (though others may be ministers of Holy Communion),^[13] Penance (Reconciliation, Confession), Confirmation (priests may administer this sacrament with prior ecclesiastical approval), and Anointing of the Sick.^[14]^[15] Only bishops can administer the sacrament of Holy Orders, by which men are ordained as bishops, priests or deacons.^[16]^[17]

^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 873 Archived 6 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
^ "If any one saith, that, in the Catholic Church there is not a hierarchy by divine ordination instituted, consisting of bishops, priests, and ministers; let him be anathema" (Council of Trent, session XXIII, canon VI on the sacrament of Order).
^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hierarchy" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 452.
^ Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2019. Paragraphs 874–896.
^ Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2019. Paragraphs 886, 888, 893, 939.
^ ""Hierarchy" in John Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
^ Duffy, Eamon (1997). Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes. Yale. ISBN 978-0300115970.
^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Hierarchy". newadvent.org. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
^ Vatican, Annuario Pontificio 2021, p. 1103.
^ Barry, p. 52
^ "Frequently Requested Church Statistics". Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. Georgetown University. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
^ Committee on the Diaconate. "Frequently Asked Questions About Deacons". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
^ "The minister who is able to confect the sacrament of the Eucharist in the person of Christ is a validly ordained priest alone" (__P38.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 900 §1). While in the English language, the word "priest" usually means someone received into the second of the three holy orders (also called the presbyterate) but not into the highest, that of bishop, the Latin text underlying this statement uses the Latin term sacerdos, which comprises both bishops and, in the common English sense, priests. To refer exclusively to priests in the more common English sense, Latin uses the word presbyter. See Dennis Chester Smolarski, The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 1969–2002: A Commentary (Liturgical Press 2003 ISBN 978-0-8146-2936-9), p. 24.
^ Canon 42 Catholic Church Canon Law. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
^ Canon 375 Archived 19 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Catholic Law. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
^ Barry, p. 114.
^ Strenski, Ivan (10 February 2015). Understanding Theories of Religion: An Introduction. Wiley. p. 195. ISBN 9781118457702.

[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 873 Archived 6 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine

[2] "If any one saith, that, in the Catholic Church there is not a hierarchy by divine ordination instituted, consisting of bishops, priests, and ministers; let him be anathema" (Council of Trent, session XXIII, canon VI on the sacrament of Order).

[3] Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hierarchy" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 452.

[4] Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2019. Paragraphs 874–896.

[5] Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2019. Paragraphs 886, 888, 893, 939.

[6] ""Hierarchy" in John Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2013.

[7] Duffy, Eamon (1997). Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes. Yale. ISBN 978-0300115970.

[8] "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Hierarchy". newadvent.org. Retrieved 3 June 2019.

[sees-9] Vatican, Annuario Pontificio 2021, p. 1103.

[OneFaith52-10] Barry, p. 52

[11] "Frequently Requested Church Statistics". Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. Georgetown University. Retrieved 21 January 2024.

[12] Committee on the Diaconate. "Frequently Asked Questions About Deacons". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

[13] "The minister who is able to confect the sacrament of the Eucharist in the person of Christ is a validly ordained priest alone" (__P38.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 900 §1). While in the English language, the word "priest" usually means someone received into the second of the three holy orders (also called the presbyterate) but not into the highest, that of bishop, the Latin text underlying this statement uses the Latin term sacerdos, which comprises both bishops and, in the common English sense, priests. To refer exclusively to priests in the more common English sense, Latin uses the word presbyter. See Dennis Chester Smolarski, The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 1969–2002: A Commentary (Liturgical Press 2003 ISBN 978-0-8146-2936-9), p. 24.

[14] Canon 42 Catholic Church Canon Law. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

[15] Canon 375 Archived 19 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Catholic Law. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

[OneFaith114-16] Barry, p. 114.

[17] Strenski, Ivan (10 February 2015). Understanding Theories of Religion: An Introduction. Wiley. p. 195. ISBN 9781118457702.

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