Adiocesan bishop, within various Christian traditions, is abishop orarchbishop inpastoral charge of adiocese orarchdiocese. In relation to other bishops, a diocesan bishop may be asuffragan, ametropolitan (if an archbishop) or aprimate. They may also hold various other positions such as being acardinal orpatriarch.
Titular bishops in theRoman Catholic Church may beassistant bishops with special faculties,coadjutor bishops (these bishops are now named as coadjutors of the dioceses they will lead, and not as titular bishops),auxiliary bishops,nuncios or similar papal diplomats (usually archbishops), officials of theRoman Curia (usually for bishops as heads or deputies of departments who are not previous ordinaries), etc. They may also hold other positions such as cardinal. The see of titular bishop is only nominal, not pastoral- meaning he does not exercise final authority as the head bishop (the ordinary), or have the right to automatically succeed the aforementioned individual (the coadjutor), over an existing diocese or archdiocese or their Eastern rite equivalents, (arch-)eparchies. Titular bishops may be active or retired. Occasionally, as a priest, they may have been given a titular bishopric or archbishopric as an honor by the Pope, similar to when he names some cardinals.[1]
A diocesanbishop[2] — in the Catholic Church — is entrusted with the pastoral care of alocal Church (diocese), over which he holds ordinary jurisdiction.[3] He is responsible for teaching, governing, andsanctifying the faithful of his diocese, sharing these duties with the priests and deacons who serve under him.[4]
TheHoly See can appoint acoadjutor bishop[5] for a diocese. He has special faculties and the right of succession.
The diocesan bishop may request that the Holy See appoint one or moreauxiliary bishops to assist him in his duties.[6]
When a diocesan bishop or auxiliary bishop retires, the word "emeritus" is added to his former title, i.e., "Archbishop Emeritus of ...", "Bishop Emeritus of ...", or "Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of ...". Examples of usage are: "The Most Reverend (or Right Reverend) John Jones, Bishop Emeritus of Anytown"; and "His Eminence Cardinal James Smith, Archbishop Emeritus of Anycity". The term "Bishop Emeritus" of a particular see can apply to several people, if the first lives long enough. The sees listed in the2007 Annuario Pontificio as having more than one bishop emeritus included Zárate-Campana, Villavicencio, Versailles, and Uruguaiana. There were even three Archbishops Emeriti of Taipei. The same suffix was applied to theBishop of Rome,Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, on his retirement.[citation needed]
Archiereus (Ancient Greek:ἀρχιερεύς, Russian,arkhierei) is aGreek term for diocesan bishop, when considered as theculmination of thepriesthood.[7] It is used in theliturgical books of theEastern Orthodox Church andEastern Catholic Church, for those services which correspond to thepontifical services of theRoman Rite. The term is distinct fromprotoiereus (archpriest), the highestecclesiastical rank which a married priest may attain in the Greek Church.[7]
The word is used in theNew TestamentEpistle to the Hebrews to mean "high priest" (Heb 2:17; 3:1; 4:14,15; 5:1,5,10; 6:20; 7:26,27,28; 8:1,3; 9:7,11,25; 19:11; 13:11).[8]
As of 2022, theChurch of England and its associatedAnglican Communion consists of 848 dioceses.[9] Some of these priests hold political power and responsibilities outside of the church inex officio capacities. The 26 most senior bishops of the Church of England are entitled to sit in theHouse of Lords, theParliament of the United Kingdom'supper house, as theLords Spiritual.[10] Additionally, theBishop of Sodor and Man is entitled to similarly sit as a member of theLegislative Council, the upper house of theIsle of Man'sTynwald.[11]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Shipman, Andrew Jackson (1907). "Archiereus". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company.There are approximately 848 dioceses in the Anglican Communion. As of July 2022, we are aware of websites for 552 of them; that's about 65%.
