Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Florencia Ucha, in Oct. 2011
At the behest of the Christian religion, the bishop it's a priest who has received the sacrament of priestly orders in the highest degree, the episcopate.
Religious of hierarchy who directs the jurisdiction of a Diocese and is elected by the Pope
It is about a religious who occupies a superior position in matters of command and direction and by case he is entrusted with the government of a diocese.
The diocese is the territory religious that is subject to jurisdiction and administration of a bishop.
According to the formality of the Right Canonical, the bishop is the member of the Church distinguished with the fullness of the ministerial priesthood; he is also considered a direct successor of the apostles.
Functions and occupations
Together with the Pope and the other bishops, he shares the responsibility over the entire Church. The bishop deals with the control and monitoring of compliance with the laws of the Church in the territory that corresponds to it, better known as diocese.
Eventually, the bishop dispenses justice and confers sacraments.
Dioceses are normally structured around a city, in which the main Church or Cathedral of which the bishop in question will be the holder and in which his seat, as the place from which he presides over liturgical celebrations is called.
Classes of bishops
Meanwhile, there are various kinds of bishops: ordinary bishop or diocesan bishop (designated by the Dad to govern a particular Diocese), auxiliary bishop (It is the one assigned to an ordinary bishop to assist or supplant him in the government of a diocese), coadjutor bishop (It is one who is also designated as auxiliary of a diocese, although he has the right of succession when it becomes vacant), bishop-elect (He was the one who had the King's appointment without being confirmed by Rome, today, is the one who did not take possession of his diocese but his appointment was formalized), recommended bishop (the one named by the Dad but who has not yet been ordained or taken possession of his diocese), regional bishop (He was the one who, without having an episcopal chair, exercised his ministry in different places according to the needs of the Church) and suffragan bishop (It is that of a diocese that together with others forms the ecclesiastical province governed by the archbishop).
Today, bishops are appointed directly by the PopeMeanwhile, the following is respected methodology: the Apostolic Nuncio from each country collects information in each province on the candidates to occupy the Episcopate and sends it to the Holy See. Once each specific case is studied, the election proceeds. Once selected, the Nuncio consults the chosen one about his disposition and if he confirms, the bull that makes his appointment public is issued.
Therefore the current Pope Francis, who is the head and authority Maximum of the Apostolic and Roman Catholic Church is who has the responsibility of appointing the bishops after the methodology described.
Meanwhile, the Nuncio is also a religious, but he exercises diplomatic functions in a specific country and of course follows the orders given to him by the Pope.
Requirements and features
Among the qualities that are required of a priest to be chosen as a candidate are: good traditions, devout faith, human virtues, good reputation, be at least 35 years old, ordained priest with at least at least five years old and have a Doctorate or Degree in Theology, Sacred Scripture or Law Canonical.
The bishops make up the Episcopal College, whose highest authority is the Pope. Its power is exercised in the Ecumenical Council.
All bishops have the obligation and the right to attend this Council and also express their vows when the moment this situation happens.
Meanwhile, bishops from different parts of the world usually meet with the Pope to promote their union and commitment in an assembly known as the Synod of Bishops.
During the Second Vatican Council, a special effort was made to revitalize this meeting, which is consultative and which has the intention of advising the Pope on certain issues; unlike councils whose purpose is to define dogmas of faith and legislate on different issues.
In the Code of Canon Law, all the attributions held by this College are overturned.
And its attributes are: pectoral cross, ring, violet clothing, miter, pastoral staff, motto and ecclesiastical heraldry.
In fact, the bishops have a very characteristic clothing that makes their recognition easy.
The black cassock with purple buttons, a sash also in purple and the skullcap also in this color.
The skullcap is called the cap normally made of silk worn by bishops, the Pope and other religious to cover their heads.
It is only removed in front of God or at some precise moment during the celebration of Mass.
In the case of bishops, they usually take it off in the presence of higher authorities such as the Pope and Cardinals.