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Aprelate (/ˈprɛlət/)[1] is a high-ranking member of theChristian clergy who is anordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from theLatinpraelatus, the past participle ofpraeferre, which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'prefer'; hence, a prelate is one set over others.
The archetypal prelate is abishop, whose prelature is hisparticular church. All other prelates, including theregular prelates such asabbots andmajor superiors, are based upon this original model of prelacy.
In a general sense, a "prelate" in theCatholic Church and other Christian churches is abishop or other ecclesiastical person who possesses ordinary authority of a jurisdiction[2], i.e., of adiocese or similar jurisdiction, e.g.,ordinariates, apostolicvicariates/exarchates, or territorial abbacies. It equally applies tocardinals, who enjoy a kind of "co-governance" of the church as the most senior ecclesiastical advisers and moral representatives of theSupreme Pontiff, and certain "superior prelates of the offices of theRoman Curia" who are not bishops, e.g., the auditors (judges) of theRoman Rota andprotonotaries apostolic. By extension, it refers to "inferior" or "lesser prelates", that ispriests who have the title and dress of prelates as a personal honorific, i.e., Papal chaplains, prelates of honor (formerly "domestic prelates"), and honorary protonotaries apostolic. All these enjoy the title ofmonsignor, which also is used in some nations forbishops and archbishops. The sevende numero protonotaries apostolic inRome, who are special Papal notaries, are true prelates like bishops; others are "supernumerary" protonotaries apostolic who enjoy this as an honorific, like Papal chaplains and prelates of honor.
In the strict canonical sense, "prelate" denominates a priest or bishop who isordinary of apersonal prelature (see below), which is a functional equivalent of a diocese that has a "particular pastoral or missionary work for various regions or for different social groups" (cf.Code of Canon Law, Canon 294) yet no territorial jurisdiction.
In theArmenian Apostolic Church, "prelate" (in English) denominates a diocesan bishop, whose jurisdiction of his diocese is denominated a "prelacy".[3]
In the Catholic Church, aterritorial prelate is a prelate whose geographic jurisdiction, denominated a "territorial prelature", is outside of and therefore not subject to any diocese. A territorial prelate is sometimes denominated a "prelate nullius", from theLatin "nullius diœceseos" (prelate of no diocese), denoting that his territory is directly subject to theHoly See (the Supreme Pontiff) and is not a diocese.[4] As of 2013[update], there were 44 territorial prelatures, all of which were in theLatin Church.
The term also is used generically, in which case it may equally refer to an apostolicprefecture, an apostolic vicariate, or a territorial abbacy.
In the Catholic Church, the personal prelature was conceived during theSecond Vatican Council (1962–65) in no. 10 of the decreePresbyterorum ordinis andPope Paul VI later enacted it into law in themotu proprioEcclesiae sanctae. The institution was later reaffirmed in theCode of Canon Law of 1983.[5] Such a prelature is an institution having clergy and, possibly, lay members which would execute specific pastoral activities. The adjective "personal" refers to the fact that in contrast with previouscanonical use for ecclesiastical institutions, thejurisdiction of the prelate is not territorial and instead is of specific persons wherever they are located. The establishment of personal prelatures is an exercise of thetheologically inherent power of self-organization which the Church has to pursue its mission, though a personal prelature is not aparticular church, as are dioceses andmilitary ordinariates.
Personal prelatures are fundamentally secular organizations operatingin the world (members do not takevows and live normal lives), whereas religious institutes are religious organizations operatingout of the world (members take vows and live by the proper law of their institute).
The first, and presently only, personal prelature isOpus Dei, whichPope John Paul II erected as such in 1982 by theApostolic constitutionUt sit. In the case of Opus Dei, the Prelate is elected by members of the Prelature and confirmed by the Supreme Pontiff; the laity and clergy of the Prelature remain subject to the government of the particular churches in whose territory they live, and the laity associated with the Prelature, both men and women, are organically united under the jurisdiction of the Prelate.
On 15 February 2018, amotu proprio issued byPope Francis ordered prelates and bishops to live simply and renounce any desire for power after they retired from senior offices of the Roman Curia. Several such officials and bishops had been criticized in the preceding years for luxurious living, such as having large apartments and police escorts after they retired. One notable incident involvedTarcisio Bertone, an Italian prelate and formerCardinal Secretary of State removed from office in 2013, who used an apartment that had been renovated at the cost of nearly half a million dollars in funds, which were diverted from a Vatican-owned hospital by the former president of the hospital. Even after he retired, Tarcisio Bertone used escorts ofVatican City and Italian police to move aroundRome.[6]
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