Grace Thompson
As of June 2024, the Catholic Church is divided into 3,172 ecclesiastical jurisdictions, including archdioceses, dioceses, apostolic vicariates, apostolic administrations, apostolic prefectures, military ordinariates, personal ordinariates, personal prelatures, territorial prelatures, territorial abbacies, and missions sui juris. A diocese is an ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. However, many churches worldwide have neither bishops nor dioceses, particularly those descended from the Protestant Reformation, such as the Reformed Churches, which include the Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist traditions. These churches are governed by assemblies of elders or ordained officers, rather than by bishops or dioceses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Churches without dioceses | Reformed Churches (which include the Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist traditions) |
| Military Ordinariates | |
| Eastern Catholic Churches | |
| Lutheran denominations | |
| The Church of Scotland | |
| The Church of Sweden | |
| Churches governed by assemblies of "elders" or ordained officers | |
| Churches with Synodal government | |
| Presbyterian churches | |
| Congregational churches | |
| Churches that independently and autonomously run their own affairs | |
| Churches in the Roman Curia |
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What You'll Learn
Places without a diocese
A diocese is an ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. In the Catholic Church, there are 2,898 regular dioceses, 652 archdioceses, and 2,250 dioceses worldwide. The Pope is responsible for establishing dioceses in the Catholic Church, determining the flock that will be entrusted to each bishop.
However, there are indeed places without a Catholic diocese. Many churches worldwide do not have bishops or dioceses, particularly those descended from the Protestant Reformation, such as the Reformed Churches, including the Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist traditions. The Church of Scotland, for example, is governed solely through presbyteries and therefore has no dioceses or bishops. Similarly, Congregational churches practice congregationalist church governance, where each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs.
Additionally, the three European insular crown dependencies of the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey do not have separate dioceses. Instead, they are covered by the Military Ordinariate of Belgium and the Diocese of Portsmouth.
In the Eastern Catholic Churches, the equivalent entity to a diocese is called an eparchy or "archeparchy," with an eparch" or "archeparch" serving as the ordinary. The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the terms "episkopes" and "eparchies" for dioceses in the Greek and Slavic traditions, respectively.
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Eastern Catholic Churches
The Catholic Church is composed of 24 churches—one Latin (Roman) and 23 Eastern or Oriental churches. These Eastern Catholic Churches have their own distinctive liturgical, legal, and organizational systems and are identified by the national or ethnic character of their region of origin. They are fully equal to the Latin tradition within the Church.
- Alexandrian liturgical tradition, originating in Egypt
- Antiochian liturgical tradition, originating in Antioch and West Syria
- Armenian liturgical tradition
- Chaldean or East Syrian liturgical tradition, originating in Mesopotamia
- Byzantine or Constantinopolitan liturgical tradition, originating in Constantinople
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The Pope's role in dioceses
The Pope is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. The Pope is a successor to Saint Peter, to whom primacy was conferred by Jesus, who gave Peter the Keys of Heaven and the powers of "binding and loosing", naming him as the rock" upon which the Church would be built. The Pope himself is a bishop and traditionally uses the title "Venerable Brother" when writing formally to another bishop. Bishops are considered the successors of the Apostles and are "constituted Pastors in the Church, to be the teachers of doctrine, the priests of sacred worship and the ministers of governance".
The Pope also plays a role in the establishment of dioceses and their equivalents. For example, Pope John Paul II amended the juridical organization of military chaplaincies from "military vicariates" to "military ordinariates", the head of which was likened to a diocesan bishop. Additionally, the Pope has the authority to establish personal ordinariates, similar to dioceses but national in scope, to serve specific groups such as former Anglicans.
In the Catholic Church, authority rests chiefly with bishops, while priests and deacons serve as their assistants, co-workers, or helpers. The Pope, as a bishop, has the option of resigning, although it is not required, unlike other bishops. The Pope's role in the establishment and governance of dioceses is supported by the body of officials known as the Roman Curia, who assist him in governing the church as a whole.
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Anglican groups and the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church is divided into various dioceses, archdioceses, apostolic vicariates, apostolic exarchates, apostolic administrations, apostolic prefectures, military ordinariates, personal ordinariates, personal prelatures, territorial prelatures, territorial abbacies, and missions sui juris. As of June 21, 2024, there are 3,172 ecclesiastical jurisdictions, including over 652 archdioceses and 2,250 dioceses.
In the United States, there are 194 archdioceses and dioceses, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. The latter was established on January 1, 2012, to serve former Anglican groups and clergy in the United States who wanted to become Catholic. It is similar to a diocese but is national in scope, and it includes parishes and communities that are fully Catholic while retaining Anglican heritage and traditions.
The Anglican Catholic Church (ACC) is a worldwide body of Christians in the continuing Anglican movement, separate from the Anglican Communion and the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia and Canada. The ACC sees itself as rooted in a Catholic stream of faith and practice, embracing various aspects of Anglicanism. It was formed in response to the Episcopal Church's revision of the Book of Common Prayer and the decision to allow the ordination of women, which some Anglicans opposed.
In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI issued the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, inviting traditionalist Anglicans to form "personal ordinariates" under the Holy See's jurisdiction while preserving their Anglican patrimony. This led to the formation of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in the United Kingdom and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter in the United States.
Anglo-Catholicism emphasizes the Catholic heritage and identity of the Church of England and Anglicanism, aiming to restore liturgical and devotional practices reflecting the early and medieval church. It includes existing Anglican Use parishes in the United States that have been in communion with Rome since the 1980s, using modified Anglican liturgies approved by the Holy See.
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Diocesan structure in the US
Each Diocese is overseen by a Diocesan Bishop, who is appointed by the Pope. Diocesan Bishops are the chief administrative officers and governors of their Diocese, exercising spiritual, executive, legislative and judicial power within their jurisdiction. They are advised by an Episcopal Council, a group of priests they appoint, who serve as a 'personnel board'. Each Diocese may also have a Diocesan Pastoral Council, responsible for investigating pastoral works and proposing practical conclusions.
Dioceses become vacant when the Ordinary Bishop resigns, passes away, or is transferred to another See. In this instance, they are overseen by an Administrator, who is a priest or bishop chosen by the College of Consultors of the (Arch)Diocese within 8 days. The Pope may also appoint an Apostolic Administrator.
The Catholic Church in the US has 194 archdioceses/dioceses, including the Archdiocese for the Military Services, and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. The Military Services Archdiocese serves members of the US Armed Forces, the Veterans Administration, and their dependents. The Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter serves former Anglicans who have joined the Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, many churches worldwide do not have bishops or dioceses. Most of these churches are descended from the Protestant Reformation, specifically the Swiss Reformation led by John Calvin. These are known as Reformed Churches, which include the Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist traditions.
The Church of Scotland is governed solely through presbyteries at the parish and regional levels and therefore has no dioceses or bishops. Congregational churches practice congregationalist church governance, where each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs.
Yes, the three European insular crown dependencies of the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey do not have separate dioceses.
