Sarah Mitchell
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of holy orders and is responsible for teaching Catholic doctrine, governing Catholics in his jurisdiction, sanctifying the world, and representing the church. A diocesan bishop is entrusted with the care of a local church (diocese) and shares responsibilities with the priests and deacons who serve under him. The appointment of bishops is a complex process involving various officials, and the specific process varies depending on factors such as the bishop's tradition and the diocese's geographic location. While bishops are typically associated with dioceses, there are instances of bishops without dioceses, such as auxiliary bishops and coadjutor bishops, who have different roles and responsibilities within the Catholic Church hierarchy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of archdioceses/dioceses in the United States | 194 |
| Number of Latin Church dioceses in the United States | 176 |
| Number of active foreign-born bishops in the United States | 38 |
| Number of active American bishops | 315 |
| Percentage of active American bishops who are foreign-born | 12% |
| Number of archdioceses/dioceses in the United States with auxiliary bishops | 100+ |
| Number of archdioceses/dioceses in the United States with coadjutor archbishops or coadjutor bishops | Not specified |
| Number of archbishops and bishops appointed by the Pope | All |
| Number of archdioceses in the United States that are not designated as metropolitan archdioceses | 1 |
| Number of geographic membership regions for USCCB proceedings | 14 |
| Number of Eastern Catholic Churches constituting their own membership region | 1 |
| Number of geographic regions that typically include two or more Metropolitan Archdioceses and several Dioceses across one or more states | 14 |
| Number of Eastern Catholic Churches with eparchies or exarchates established in the United States that are not grouped into metropoliae | Not specified |
| Number of Eastern Catholic Churches with jurisdictions that include members and congregations in both the United States and Canada | Several |
| Number of Eastern Catholic Eparchies and Archeparchies with jurisdiction over the United States and Canada | Not specified |
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What You'll Learn
What is a diocese?
A diocese, also known as a bishopric, is an ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. The word diocese comes from the Latin "dioecesis", derived from the Greek "διοίκησις" ("administration").
The Roman Empire originally divided its provinces into dioceses for administrative purposes. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, each diocese was appointed a bishop to oversee the ministry in that area. As the Roman ecclesiastical system spread to other regions, the division of cities into religious dioceses continued.
A diocese is divided into smaller parishes, each of which is assigned a priest who ministers there. All the priests in a diocese are supervised by a bishop. Dioceses are often grouped into ecclesiastical provinces for greater cooperation and common action among regional dioceses. Within an ecclesiastical province, one diocese can be designated an "archdiocese" or "metropolitan archdiocese", establishing centrality within an ecclesiastical province and denoting a higher rank. Several dioceses are grouped together to form an archdiocese, which is supervised by an archbishop.
As of December 2024, there were 2,898 regular dioceses in the Catholic Church worldwide, including 176 Latin Church dioceses in the United States. These dioceses are divided into 33 ecclesiastical provinces, each of which has a metropolitan archdiocese led by an archbishop and at least one suffragan diocese led by a bishop.
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Bishops without dioceses
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister responsible for teaching Catholic doctrine, governing Catholics in his jurisdiction, sanctifying the world, and representing the church. Bishops are assigned to govern local regions within the Catholic Church known as dioceses in the Latin Church and eparchies in the Eastern Churches. Diocesan bishops are known as eparchial bishops in the Eastern Catholic Churches.
Dioceses vary considerably in geographical size and population. Dioceses around the Mediterranean Sea, which received the Christian faith early, are rather compact in size. In contrast, those in more recently evangelized areas, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and the Far East, tend to be much larger and more populous.
The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complex process that requires the participation of several officials, including outgoing bishops, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, various members of the Roman Curia, and the pope. The process varies depending on factors such as the bishop's church tradition, the diocese's geographic location, and the office the candidate is being appointed to.
While diocesan bishops are typically assigned to a specific diocese, there are instances of bishops without dioceses. These include auxiliary bishops, who are full-time assistants to diocesan bishops or archbishops. They serve under the direction of the archbishop or bishop and are usually appointed as vicars general or episcopal vicars of the diocese they serve in. Auxiliary bishops do not have the right of succession.
Coadjutor bishops are another type of bishop who assists an elderly or ailing archbishop or bishop with their administrative duties. They are given almost equal authority to the diocesan bishop or archbishop and have the right to succeed them. In most cases, the coadjutor succeeds the archbishop or bishop without a separate appointment by the pope.
Additionally, in the Catholic Church, a primate is usually the bishop of the oldest diocese or the capital of a present or former nation. This title is honorary.
In conclusion, while diocesan bishops are typically associated with a specific diocese, there are instances of bishops without dioceses, such as auxiliary bishops and coadjutor bishops, who serve in supportive roles or are in transition between appointments.
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Catholic bishops in the US
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of holy orders. Bishops are responsible for teaching doctrine, governing Catholics in their jurisdiction, sanctifying the world, and representing the church.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is an assembly of the Catholic Church hierarchy of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The USCCB consists of all active and retired bishops—diocesan, coadjutor, and auxiliary—in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Archdioceses and Dioceses of the United States are divided into 14 geographic regions, with the Eastern Catholic Churches constituting their own membership region for USCCB proceedings. There are 194 archdioceses/dioceses in the United States, including the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. The 176 Latin Church dioceses in the United States are divided into 33 ecclesiastical provinces, each led by an archbishop with at least one suffragan diocese led by a bishop.
The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complicated process involving various officials, including the outgoing bishop, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, members of the Roman Curia, and the pope. In the United States, there is a significant number of foreign-born bishops, with most serving as auxiliary bishops in culturally diverse dioceses. As of 2025, there are 38 active foreign-born bishops in the United States, representing about 12% of all active American bishops.
- Bishop Vincent DePaul Breen †, Bishop Emeritus of Metuchen, New Jersey
- Bishop Manuel Batakian, Eparch Emeritus of Our Lady of Nareg in New York (Armenian)
- Bishop Vincent John Baldwin †, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Rockville Centre, New York
- Bishop Mark Edward Brennan, Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia
- Bishop Michael Joseph Boulette, Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio, Texas
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The role of a bishop
A bishop is an ordained minister in the Catholic Church who holds the fullness of the sacrament of holy orders. Bishops are responsible for teaching Catholic doctrine, governing Catholics in their jurisdiction, sanctifying the world, and representing the church. They are the successors of the Twelve Apostles, whom God called to follow him.
In addition to their spiritual duties, bishops also have administrative and supervisory responsibilities. They are advisors and mentors to the priests in their diocese, defending their rights and determining if they are faithfully fulfilling their obligations. Bishops also ensure that their diocesan priests have the necessary means to sustain their spiritual, emotional, and intellectual lives.
In some cases, bishops may also hold civil power or political influence. For example, during the Middle Ages, Western bishops often served as civil authorities, known as prince bishops. In modern times, senior bishops of the Church of England sit in the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, known as Lords Spiritual.
The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complex process involving various officials, including outgoing bishops, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, members of the Roman Curia, and the Pope. Bishops are typically chosen from a list of candidates provided to the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome by the papal nuncio, who solicits input from clergy and laity within the vacant diocese.
There are different types of bishops, such as diocesan bishops, auxiliary bishops, and coadjutor bishops, each with distinct roles and responsibilities. Diocesan bishops are in charge of a diocese, while auxiliary bishops serve under the direction of the diocesan bishop or archbishop. Coadjutors assist an elderly or ailing diocesan bishop or archbishop and typically succeed them upon retirement or death.
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The appointment of bishops
The process of appointing bishops varies depending on whether the bishop is from the Latin Church or one of the Eastern Catholic Churches, the geographic location of the diocese, and the office the candidate is being appointed to. For example, in patriarchal and major archiepiscopal Eastern Churches, the permanent synod, the holy synod, and the patriarch or major archbishop also play a role in the selection.
Diocesan bishops, also known as eparchial bishops in the Eastern Catholic Churches, are assigned to govern local regions within the Catholic Church known as dioceses in the Latin Church and eparchies in the Eastern Churches. They are responsible for teaching, governing, and sanctifying the faithful within their diocese, sharing these duties with the priests and deacons who serve under them.
Coadjutor bishops are appointed by the Pope to assist an elderly or ailing archbishop or bishop with their administrative duties. They typically succeed the archbishop or bishop without requiring a separate appointment by the Pope. Auxiliary bishops, on the other hand, are full-time assistants to diocesan bishops or archbishops, serving under their direction and usually appointed as vicars general or episcopal vicars of the diocese.
The creation of a new diocese is studied and judged by the Congregation of Propaganda, which considers factors such as the number of Catholics, priests, religious establishments, towns, and financial resources to determine if the establishment of a new diocese is justified. The Pope, as the supreme power in the Church, has the authority to divide or unite dioceses, influenced by the advice of persons familiar with the situation.
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Frequently asked questions
A diocese is a local Church that a bishop is entrusted with caring for. Dioceses vary considerably in geographical size and population.
Yes, there are Catholic bishops without dioceses. An auxiliary bishop, for example, is a full-time assistant to a diocesan bishop or archbishop. They are titular bishops without the right of succession.
A titular bishop holds an office that does not require episcopal ordination.
