The Organization of the Catholic Church
Learn about the institutional structure and organization of the Catholic Church. What role does the papacy play in uniting the Church? How is power divided between the Vatican, dioceses, and parishes? What are religious orders? What is the difference between a monk, a bishop, and a priest? Discover the diversity of the Catholic Church, the largest organization on earth.
The Papacy of the Catholic Church
The papacy is the term for the office and the authority of the pope of Rome, the successor to Saint Peter as bishop of Rome and head of the universal Church. The pope is the spiritual head of all Christendom. He is the final arbiter of doctrinal disputes in the Church, and, when defining doctrines involving faith and morals, he is guided infallibly by the Holy Spirit.
The papacy is the term for the office and the authority of the pope of Rome, the successor to Saint Peter as bishop of Rome and head of the universal Church. The pope is the spiritual head of all Christendom. He is the final arbiter of doctrinal disputes in the Church, and, when defining doctrines involving faith and morals, he is guided infallibly by the Holy Spirit.
The Office of Bishop in the Catholic Church
The bishop is a successor to the Apostles, deriving his authority directly from Christ's Great Commission to "Go and make disciples of all nations." As the head of a local church (a diocese), he is responsible for the spiritual welfare of both the Christians and the non-Christians who live therein.
The bishop is a successor to the Apostles, deriving his authority directly from Christ's Great Commission to "Go and make disciples of all nations." As the head of a local church (a diocese), he is responsible for the spiritual welfare of both the Christians and the non-Christians who live therein.
The Papacy
What is the papacy? What are the two meanings of the papacy?
What is the papacy? What are the two meanings of the papacy?
Motu Proprio
A document, signed personally by the pope, and issued solely on his authority and not in response to a request.
A document, signed personally by the pope, and issued solely on his authority and not in response to a request.
The Holy See
The official website of the Vatican.
The official website of the Vatican.
Catholic-Hierarchy.org
Comprehensive information on the bishops and dioceses of the Catholic Church, both currently and historically.
Comprehensive information on the bishops and dioceses of the Catholic Church, both currently and historically.
Catholic Encyclopedia: Hierarchy
A comprehensive overview of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, and the particular jurisdiction of each member of the hierarchy.
A comprehensive overview of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, and the particular jurisdiction of each member of the hierarchy.
Code of Canon Law
This is the authoritative text of the Code of Canon Law for the Roman Catholic Church. Canon law is the rules and regulations that govern the organization and operation of the Church. The Code of Canon Law applies only to the Latin Church; the Eastern (Oriental) Churches have their own canon law.
This is the authoritative text of the Code of Canon Law for the Roman Catholic Church. Canon law is the rules and regulations that govern the organization and operation of the Church. The Code of Canon Law applies only to the Latin Church; the Eastern (Oriental) Churches have their own canon law.
Code of Canons of Oriental Churches
The Eastern or Oriental Catholic Churches have their own code of canon law, which governs the organization and operations of the Eastern Churches.
The Eastern or Oriental Catholic Churches have their own code of canon law, which governs the organization and operations of the Eastern Churches.