Prelate
A prelate (/ˈprɛlət/)[1] is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin praelatus, the past participle of praeferre, which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'prefer'; hence, a prelate is one set over others.
The archetypal prelate is a
Related terminology
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In a general sense, a "prelate" in the
In the strict canonical sense, "prelate" denominates a priest or bishop who is
In the Armenian Apostolic Church, "prelate" (in English) denominates a diocesan bishop, whose jurisdiction of his diocese is denominated a "prelacy".
Territorial prelatures
In the Catholic Church, a
The term also is used generically, in which case it may equally refer to an apostolic prefecture, an apostolic vicariate, or a territorial abbacy.
Personal prelatures
In the Catholic Church, the personal prelature was conceived during the
Personal prelatures are fundamentally secular organizations operating in the world (members do not take vows and live normal lives), whereas religious institutes are religious organizations operating out of the world (members take vows and live by the proper law of their institute).
The first, and presently only, personal prelature is Opus Dei, which Pope John Paul II erected as such in 1982 by the Apostolic constitution Ut sit. In the case of Opus Dei, the Prelate is elected by members of the Prelature and confirmed by the Supreme Pontiff; the laity and clergy of the Prelature remain subject to the government of the particular churches in whose territory they live, and the laity associated with the Prelature, both men and women, are organically united under the jurisdiction of the Prelate.
Guidelines
On 15 February 2018, a motu proprio issued by Pope Francis ordered prelates and bishops to live simply and renounce any desire for power after they retired from senior offices of the Roman Curia. Several such officials and bishops had been criticized in the preceding years for luxurious living, such as having large apartments and police escorts after they retired. One notable incident involved Tarcisio Bertone, an Italian prelate and former Cardinal Secretary of State removed from office in 2013, who used an apartment that had been renovated at the cost of nearly half a million dollars in funds, which were diverted from a Vatican-owned hospital by the former president of the hospital. Even after he retired, Tarcisio Bertone used escorts of Vatican City and Italian police to move around Rome.[4]
See also
- Catholic Church hierarchy § Equivalents of diocesan bishops in law
- Ordinariate for the faithful of eastern rite
- Personal ordinariate
References
- ^ American Heritage Dictionary entry "prelate"
- ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ "Code of Canon Law – IntraText". www.vatican.va. Archived from the original on 2014-03-09.
- ^ Philip Pullella (February 15, 2018). "Pope orders retired prelates to live austerely, shun power". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2018-02-15. positions
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