Hierarchy : Order Of Priests In The Catholic Church - Pope, bishop, cardinal, and priest When discussing the Catholic Church, so many names are bandied around that it is easy to become confused about who belongs where.
There are six major levels of clergy, and individuals work their way up the order, but very few ever reach the top. In truth, the vast majority of clergy do not go beyond the second level.
List Of Hierarchy of the Catholic Church :
- Deacon
- Priest
- Bishop
- Archbishop
- Cardinal
- Pope
Deacon
Within the Catholic Church, there are two categories of Deacons, however we’ll focus on transitional deacons. These men, known as seminarians, are pupils of the Catholic Church. They are usually nearing the end of their priestly training. They will be in this position for a year.
Deacons can practice in many ways that priests can. They have the authority to baptize, witness weddings, and administer burials.
Priest
Individuals become priests after graduating from the ranks of Deacon. The Rite of Ordination is required to become a priest. This entitles them to the priesthood. They swear to keep the obligations of the priesthood and to follow his superiors throughout the ritual.
Individuals who become priests are able to execute the Eucharistic rite, take confession, and perform Anointing of the Sick. Priests can also perform Holy Matrimony.
Within the Catholic Church, there are two categories of priests: religious and diocesan. Individual parishes are led by diocesan priests. They are not needed to take the same vows as monastic priests and serve just within their own parish. Diocesan priests are paid monthly and have their food and accommodation provided by the parish. Outside of service, they are free to wear anything they like. This style of priest is more typical in secular nations that do not have a large traditional Catholic populace.
Religious priests, on the other hand, make a pledge to a religious order, such as the Jesuits. They wear specific religious clothing and take additional vows of poverty and obedience. Priests are not allowed to own personal property and own virtually little other than their garments. They usually reside in a group housing with other order members. They are usually not paid and must carry out the commands of their supervisor.
Bishop
Bishops are ordained pastors who have received the entire sacrament of holy orders. Catholics trace their roots back to the apostles, who were gifted with a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost.
Bishops must be 35 years old, have been ordained for at least five years, and have a PhD in theology. They are thought to be true experts in canon law and sacred text. They are often in charge of geographic territories known as dioceses.
Order Of Priests In The Catholic Church
As all senior clergy carry the title bishop, becoming a bishop is a significant point in most clergy lives. Bishops are allowed to retire at the age of 75. They are to submit their resignation to the Pope at this time, who will then work with him to find a suitable replacement.
Bishops are the highest and most complete degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Archbishop
Archbishops are the most powerful bishops. They are in charge of enormous territories of churches known as archdioceses. The title is derived from the Greek word for “chief.” When bishops want aid or instruction, they report directly to them. The archbishop is best thought of as a bishop manager for a certain geographical territory.
Cardinal
Cardinals are the highest-ranking bishops in the College of Cardinals. Their most important responsibility is to vote for the new Pope in the Papal Conclave. Most have additional responsibilities, such as missions inside the Roman Curia, the Holy See’s governing body. Cardinals must, however, be under the age of 80 to vote in these elections.
Pope Francis is noted for his exceptionally varied collection of cardinals—if you can call a group of old, male, Catholic cardinals different. There are presently 128 cardinals in office. Pope Francis created 88 of them from 56 nations. 17 of these nations were never represented again in the College of Cardinals.
Pope Francis appointed many cardinals who are experts in the welfare of migrants and ties with Islam in 2019.
Pope
Being chosen as the leader of the Catholic Church is the highest honor a member of the clergy can obtain. Following the death or resignation of a Pope, cardinals under the age of eight elect the Pope. A Pope’s tenure is unbounded.
The Pope’s office is referred to as the papacy. The Pope governs the Catholic Church in much the same manner as a monarch governs a kingdom, and he is the head of state for Vatican City. The Roma Curia (also known as Cardinals) assists the Pope in carrying out his responsibilities.
Newly elected popes must adopt a regnal name, and many choose to honor former popes’ names. Each pope chose his name in honor of a saint with whom he has a special relationship. Catholics believe the pope is infallible while speaking ex cathedra, and that God will not lead his people astray by having him make a false statement when the ex cathedra qualifications are satisfied.
As can be seen, the Catholic priesthood is a complex institution. This essay has just scratched the surface of each of the Catholic cardinal ranks. Furthermore, you may have observed that we have solely mentioned men. This isn’t because we forgot about women; it’s because the Catholic Church does not allow women to serve in the priesthood, but that’s a tale for another day.
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