Bishops

One of three Holy Orders of the Catholic Church, a bishop is the pastor of a diocese who also has legislative and judicial powers over this territory. Collectively, the members of the College of Bishops (or the episcopate) are considered the successors of the Apostles. Within this body, there are different ranks of bishops (see Wikipedia), including patriarchs, metropolitans, and archbishops. These different types of bishops reflect varying levels of authority and responsibility that are generally associated with the size or historical significance (or both) of a particular diocese. Their titles are honorific, except in the case of the Pope (who is the Bishop of Rome). Bishops also serve in broader roles, such as official in the Roman Curia. The other two Holy Orders are priests and deacons.

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