Roman Catholic Church HierarchyThe Catholic clergy is organized in a strict, sometimes overlapping hierarchy:Pope: Head of the church, he is based at the Vatican. The pope is infallible in defining matters of faith and morals. Cardinal: Appointed by the pope, 178 cardinals worldwide make up the College of Cardinals. As a body, it advises the pope and, on his death, elects a new pope. Archbishop: An archbishop is a bishop of a main or metropolitan diocese, also called an archdiocese. A cardinal can concurrently hold the title. Bishop: A bishop, like a priest, is ordained to this station. He is a teacher of church doctrine, a priest of sacred worship, and a minister of church government. Priest: An ordained minister who can administer most of the sacraments, including the Eucharist, baptism, and marriage. He can be with a particular religious order or committed to serving a congregation. Deacon: A transitional deacon is a seminarian studying for the priesthood. A permanent deacon can be married and assists a priest by performing some of the sacraments. Source: Infoplease.com |