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Hierarchy of the Catholic Church

Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:41:29 PM Wikipedia source

The hierarchy of the Catholic Church consists of its bishops, priests, and deacons. 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. In the Catholic Church, authority rests chiefly with bishops, while priests and deacons serve as their assistants, co-workers or helpers. Accordingly, "hierarchy of the Catholic Church" is also used to refer to the bishops alone. The term "pope" was still used loosely until the sixth century, being at times assumed by other bishops. The term "hierarchy" became popular only in the sixth century, due to the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius. As of 31 December 2020, the Catholic Church consisted of 2,903 dioceses or equivalent jurisdictions, 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. 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. All clergy, including deacons, priests, and bishops, may preach, teach, baptize, witness marriages, and conduct funeral liturgies. Only priests and bishops can celebrate the sacraments of the Eucharist (though others may be ministers of Holy Communion), Penance (Reconciliation, Confession), Confirmation (priests may administer this sacrament with prior ecclesiastical approval), and Anointing of the Sick. Only bishops can administer the sacrament of Holy Orders, by which men are ordained as bishops, priests or deacons.

Tables

Current and historical Catholic patriarchates · Episcopate › Eastern patriarchs
Patriarchs of sui iuris Churches
Patriarchs of sui iuris Churches
Type
Patriarchs of sui iuris Churches
Church
Coptic
Patriarchate
Alexandria
Patriarch
Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak
Greek-Melkite
Greek-Melkite
Type
Greek-Melkite
Church
Antioch
Patriarchate
Patriarch Youssef Absi
Maronite
Maronite
Type
Maronite
Church
Antioch
Patriarchate
Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi
Syriac
Syriac
Type
Syriac
Church
Antioch
Patriarchate
Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan
Armenian
Armenian
Type
Armenian
Church
Cilicia
Patriarchate
Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian
Chaldean
Chaldean
Type
Chaldean
Church
Baghdad
Patriarchate
Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako
Type
Church
Patriarchate
Patriarch
Patriarchs of sui iuris Churches
Coptic
Alexandria
Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak
Greek-Melkite
Antioch
Patriarch Youssef Absi
Maronite
Antioch
Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi
Syriac
Antioch
Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan
Armenian
Cilicia
Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian
Chaldean
Baghdad
Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako
mw- List of Catholic major archbishops · Episcopate › Major archbishops
Kyiv–Galicia
Kyiv–Galicia
Major archdiocese
Kyiv–Galicia
Country
Ukraine
Church
Ukrainian
Year of Elevation as Major Archeparchy
1963
Major Archbishop
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk
Ernakulam-Angamaly
Ernakulam-Angamaly
Major archdiocese
Ernakulam-Angamaly
Country
India
Church
Syro-Malabar
Year of Elevation as Major Archeparchy
1992
Major Archbishop
Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil
Trivandrum
Trivandrum
Major archdiocese
Trivandrum
Country
India
Church
Syro-Malankara
Year of Elevation as Major Archeparchy
2005
Major Archbishop
Cardinal Catholicos Baselios Cleemis
Făgăraş and Alba Iulia
Făgăraş and Alba Iulia
Major archdiocese
Făgăraş and Alba Iulia
Country
Romania
Church
Romanian
Year of Elevation as Major Archeparchy
2005
Major Archbishop
Major Archbishop Claudiu-Lucian Pop
Major archdiocese
Country
Church
Year of Elevation as Major Archeparchy
Major Archbishop
Kyiv–Galicia
Ukraine
Ukrainian
1963
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk
Ernakulam-Angamaly
India
Syro-Malabar
1992
Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil
Trivandrum
India
Syro-Malankara
2005
Cardinal Catholicos Baselios Cleemis
Făgăraş and Alba Iulia
Romania
Romanian
2005
Major Archbishop Claudiu-Lucian Pop
Current and historical Latin patriarchates · Episcopate › Latin patriarchs
Patriarchs of the Latin Church
Patriarchs of the Latin Church
Type
Patriarchs of the Latin Church
Patriarchate
Jerusalem
Patriarch
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
Lisbon
Lisbon
Type
Lisbon
Patriarchate
Patriarch Rui Valério
Venice
Venice
Type
Venice
Patriarchate
Patriarch Francesco Moraglia
Titular patriarchs of the Latin Church
Titular patriarchs of the Latin Church
Type
Titular patriarchs of the Latin Church
Patriarchate
East Indies
Patriarch
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão
West Indies
West Indies
Type
West Indies
Patriarchate
vacant since 1963
Suppressed titles
Suppressed titles
Type
Suppressed titles
Patriarchate
Alexandria
Patriarch
suppressed in 1964
Antioch
Antioch
Type
Antioch
Patriarchate
suppressed in 1964
Constantinople
Constantinople
Type
Constantinople
Patriarchate
suppressed in 1964
Aquileia
Aquileia
Type
Aquileia
Patriarchate
suppressed in 1751
Grado
Grado
Type
Grado
Patriarchate
transferred to Venice in 1451
Type
Patriarchate
Patriarch
Patriarchs of the Latin Church
Jerusalem
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
Lisbon
Patriarch Rui Valério
Venice
Patriarch Francesco Moraglia
Titular patriarchs of the Latin Church
East Indies
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão
West Indies
vacant since 1963
Suppressed titles
Alexandria
suppressed in 1964
Antioch
suppressed in 1964
Constantinople
suppressed in 1964
Aquileia
suppressed in 1751
Grado
transferred to Venice in 1451

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