Archbishop

bishop of higher rank in many Christian denominations

In Christianity, an archbishop is an important bishop. The jurisdiction or area governed by an archbishop is called an metropolis (or metropolitan (arch)diocese). In the Catholic Church, when a bishop becomes an archbishop, he does not receive any additional Holy Orders or other sacrament.

Orthodox archbishop
A Catholic metropolitan archbishop wearing a pallium

Catholicism

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Archbishop's coat of arms (metropolitan)
 
Archbishop's coat of arms

In the Catholic Church, archbishops usually oversee archdioceses, which are important regions or cities. While an archbishop holds a higher rank than a regular bishop, his sacramental role remains the same. Archbishops are responsible for maintaining the unity of the church within their archdiocese and may have the authority to oversee multiple dioceses. The head of an archdiocese is often called a metropolitan archbishop. Although not all archbishops are cardinals, some archbishops, especially those in large or important cities, may be appointed as cardinals by the Pope. The title archbishop ad personam is an honorary title and it is granted to a bishop who is appointed as an archbishop but does not have jurisdiction over a specific archdiocese. The title Archbishop Emeritus is given to retired archbishops who continue to hold their title without active jurisdiction.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Other Religions

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While the term archbishop is most commonly associated with Christianity, especially the Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches, some other Christian denominations also use the title. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, archbishops often oversee large or historically important areas. The structure may vary, as in some Orthodox traditions, archbishops are ranked lower than metropolitans.[6][5][9][10][8]

In the Anglican Communion, archbishops hold similar responsibilities to those in the Catholic Church. The most notable example is the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is considered the spiritual leader of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion worldwide.[5][11][12][13]

See also

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References

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  1. "What Is an 'Ad Personam' Archbishop, Empty Promises, and More Great Links!". NCR. 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  2. "Help/Terminology [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  3. "Archbishop | Religious Leader, Church Leader & Spiritual Authority | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  4. "Roles of Bishop, Archbishop and Cardinal Explained". Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Archbishop in Christianity | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "archbishop". Collins Dictionary. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  7. "Frequently Asked Questions about Archbishops | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Metropolitan | Church Leader, Bishop & Archbishop | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  9. "What do all those titles mean? - Questions & Answers". www.oca.org. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  10. "The Consecration (Ordination) Of An Orthodox Bishop". American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  11. "Archbishop of Canterbury". Anglican Communion. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  12. "Leadership and governance". The Church of England. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  13. "The Archbishop's role in public life". The Archbishop of Canterbury. Retrieved 2024-10-20.