Bishop

A bishop is an ordained minister and always a man who holds the fullness of

the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching doctrine, governing Catholics in his jurisdiction, and sanctifying the world and for representing the Church. 

Catholics trace the origins of the office of bishop to the apostles, who were endowed with a special charism by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Catholics believe this special charism has been transmitted through an unbroken succession of bishops by the laying on of hands in the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Diocesan bishops (known as eparchs in the Eastern Catholic Churches) are assigned to govern local regions within the Church known as dioceses in the Latin Church and eparchies in the Eastern Rites. Bishops are collectively known as the College of Bishops and can hold such additional titles as archbishop, cardinal, patriarch, or pope. 

As of 2009 there were approximately 5,100 bishops total in the Latin and Eastern branches of the Catholic Church.

Duties

The traditional role of a bishop is to act as head of a diocese or eparchy. Dioceses vary considerably in geographical size and population. 

A Diocesan Bishop is entrusted with the care of a local Church (diocese comprising several parishes). He is responsible for teaching, governing, and sanctifying the faithful of his diocese, sharing these duties with the priests and deacons who serve under him.

Teach, Sanctify & Govern

To "teach, sanctify and govern" means that he must 

1. oversee preaching of the Gospel and Catholic education in all its forms; 
2. oversee and provide for the administration of the sacraments; and 
3. legislate, administer and act as judge for canon-law matters within his diocese. 

Shepard of the Diocese

He serves as the "chief shepherd" (spiritual leader) of the diocese and has responsibility for the pastoral care of all Catholics living within his ecclesiastical and ritual jurisdiction. He is obliged to celebrate Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation with the intention of praying for those in his care, assign clergy to their posts in various institutions and oversee finances. 

A bishop is to have a special concern for priests, listening to them, using them as counsellors, ensuring that they are adequately provided for in every way, and defending their rights set forth in the Code of Canon Law. 

Latin Catholic bishops also must make regular ad limina visits to the Holy See every five years.

Power to Confer Sacrament of Holy Orders & Administer Confirmation

Only a bishop possesses the power to confer the sacrament of Holy Orders. In the Latin Church the minor orders were abolished after the Second Vatican Council. In Eastern Catholic rites, a monastic archimandrite may tonsure and institute his subjects to minor orders; however, the tonsure and minor orders are not considered to be part of the sacrament of Holy Orders.

The bishop is the only ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Latin Church, but a bishop may delegate the administration to a priest. In the case of receiving an adult into full communion with the Catholic Church some bishops delegate to the presiding priest to administer Confirmation. In the Eastern Catholic Churches, Confirmation (called Chrismation) is normally administered by priests as it is given at the same time as baptism. 

Power to Bless Churches & Altars

It is only within the power of the diocesan bishop or eparch to bless churches and altars, although he may delegate another bishop, or even a priest, to perform the ceremony.

The following functions by ecclesiastical law are reserved to the bishop: the dedication of a church, the consecration of an altar, of chalices and patens, and generally of the articles serving for the celebration of Holy Mass, the reconciliation of a desecrated church, the benediction of bells, the benediction of an abbot, the benediction of the holy oils.

Blessing of the Holy Oils used for the Diocese

On Holy Thursday Latin Rite Catholic bishops preside over the Mass of the Chrism. Though Oil of the Sick for the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is blessed at this Mass, it may also be blessed by any priest in case of necessity. Only a bishop may consecrate Chrism (used for Confirmation, Baptism & Holy Orders) and Oil of Catechumens. In the Eastern Catholic Churches chrism is consecrated solely by heads of Churches sui juris (patriarchs and metropolitans) and diocesan bishops may not do so.

Authorizing Theological Books

Only a bishop or other ordinary may grant imprimaturs for theological books, certifying that they are free from doctrinal or moral error; this is an expression of the teaching authority, and education responsibility of the bishop.

Canonical authority

In both Western and Eastern Catholic Churches, any priest can celebrate the Mass. In order to offer Mass publicly, however, a priest is required to have permission from the local Ordinary. Authority for this permission may be given to pastors of parishes for a limited period, but for long-term permission recourse to the diocesan bishop is usually required. 

A celebret may be issued to travelling priests so that they can demonstrate to pastors and bishops outside of their own diocese that they are in good standing. However, even if a priest does not possess such a document, he may celebrate the sacraments if the local bishop or pastor judges that the visiting priest is a person of good character.

In the East an antimension signed by the bishop is kept on the altar partly as a reminder of whose altar it is and under whose omophorion the priest at a local parish is serving.

For priests to validly celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation they must have faculties (permission and authority) from the local bishop. However when the penitent is in danger of death, a priest has both the right and obligation to hear the confession no matter where he may be.

To preside at matrimony, Latin Church priests and deacons must have appropriate jurisdiction or delegation from a competent authority. In the Latin branch of the Catholic Church, the teaching is that it is the couple themselves who administer the graces of the sacrament; thus, although it is normally an ordained person who officiates at a marriage ceremony, a bishop may delegate a lay person to be present for the exchange of vows; this would be done only in extreme cases such as in mission territories. In the Eastern tradition, the clergy not only witness the exchange of vows but must impart a blessing for a valid marriage to have taken place.

Unless a particular bishop has forbidden it, any bishop may preach throughout the Catholic Church and any priest or deacon may also preach anywhere (presuming the permission of local pastor) unless his faculty to preach has been restricted or removed.

The right to punish is a necessary consequence of the right to judge. Formerly the bishop could and did inflict even corporal punishments and fines. These are no longer customary even for ecclesiastics. The usual penalties for the laity are censures; for ecclesiastics, religious exercises, confinement for a time in a monastery, degradation to an office of less importance, and censures, especially suspension.  

The bishop also has the right of issuing certain commands i.e. of imposing on a particular ecclesiastic special obligations sanctioned by certain penalties. He has also the lawful power to remove the penalties inflicted by him. 

Bishops call also grant indulgences: cardinals 200, archbishops 100, and bishops, 50 days' indulgence. 

Cathedral & Cathedra (Throne)

The cathedral of a diocese contains a special chair, called a cathedra, sometimes referred to as a throne, set aside in the sanctuary for the exclusive use of its Ordinary; it symbolises his spiritual and ecclesiastical authority. The church containing the bishop’s cathedra or where his authority originates from, is called the Cathedral.

Within his own diocese a Latin Church bishop may use pontifical vestments and regalia, but may not do so in another diocese without, at least, the presumed consent of the appropriate ordinary.

Summary of a Bishop’s Administrative Power

• The foremost is the supreme direction of the clergy. At the present day, generally speaking, it might be said that the bishop has the right to retain in his diocese a priest to whom he has entrusted ecclesiastical functions and given the means of subsistence. In case of necessity or great utility, e.g. given the scarcity of priests, the bishop may compel an ecclesiastic to accept ecclesiastical functions, but he will require a pontifical indult to impose upon him the cura animarum, or cure of souls. The bishop may also nominate to the benefices and ecclesiastical functions of his own diocese. Certain nominations, however, are reserved to the Holy See, and in several countries the right of patronage still exists.

• The bishop, intervenes in the administration of ecclesiastical property. No alienation whatever of ecclesiastical goods is possible without his consent, and he exercises supreme supervision over their administration.

• He has a special right of intervention in all matters relating to Divine worship and to the sacraments. He authorizes and supervises the printing of liturgical books, regulates public worship, processions, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, celebration of the Holy Mass, celebration of Mass twice on the same day by the same priest , and exorcisms. His consent is required for the erection of churches and oratories. He authorizes the public veneration of the relics of saints and of those who have been beatified. He exercises supervision over statues and images exposed for the veneration of the faithful. He publishes Indulgences, etc. but in all these matters his power is not unlimited. He must conform to the enactments of the canon law.

Appointment of a Diocesan Bishop

All Bishops and Archbishops are appointed by the Pope.

The appointment of a bishop in the Catholic Church is a complicated process which involves many people. It starts from a see becoming vacant.

Diocesan Bishops & Archbishops must Resign at Age 75

Canon 401 §1 of the Code of Canon Law states that diocesan bishops must submit their resignation to the pope on reaching the age of 75. Some do so earlier with a view to having the resignation take effect immediately on reaching 75. Bishops should also offer their resignation if ill-health or other grave problems render them unsuited for fulfilling their office. 

The letter of resignation goes first to the apostolic nuncio or apostolic delegate, the pope's representative in the country or region. He forwards it to whichever department of the Holy See has particular responsibility for the selection of bishops for the country in question: the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in the case of mission countries, the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the case of Latin bishops in certain Middle Eastern countries and Greece, the Secretariat of State if the country's government has been given the right to present objections of "a general political nature" (not of a party-political kind) or is involved in some other way, but generally the Congregation for Bishops. 

The Congregation presents the bishop's offer of resignation to the pope, who has a range of options from rejecting the offer of resignation to accepting it with immediate effect. In the case of diocesan bishops who have reached 75 years of age, the usual decision is to accept the resignation but with effect only from the date of publication of the appointment of a successor, a decision known as acceptance nunc pro tunc (now for then). The process that leads to the appointment of a successor begins without delay.

If the resignation is accepted with immediate effect, the episcopal see becomes vacant on publication of the pope's decision. Vacancy of a see may occur also because of a bishop's transfer to another see or position, or because of his death. 

One important element in selecting a bishop is the list of priests, of both the diocesan and the religious clergy, that the bishops of the ecclesiastical province or the whole Episcopal Conference judge to be suitable generically (without reference to any particular see) for appointment as bishops. They are required to draw up this list at least once every three years, so that it is always recent.

When it comes to a concrete appointment for a particular see, the papal representative (apostolic nuncio or delegate) asks either the outgoing bishop, or in case of a sede vacante, the vicar general or diocesan administrator, to draw up a report on its situation and the needs. The papal representative is also obliged to consult the metropolitan archbishop and the other bishops of the province, the president of the bishops conference, and at least some members of the college of consultors and the cathedral chapter. He may also consult others, whether clergy, diocesan or religious, and "lay persons of outstanding wisdom".

Canon law insists on enabling those consulted to provide information and express their views confidentially, requiring that they be consulted "individually and in secret". 

The nuncio then decides on a short list, or terna, of three candidates for further investigation and seeks precise information on each of them. Since if it were widely known that a priest who was not the one who was finally chosen for the post had been under consideration, people might think he had been excluded because of some fault found in him (a groundless conclusion, since all those examined may be eminently worthy and suitable, but only one can be selected), the nuncio will ask those consulted about individual candidates to observe the strictest confidentiality on the fact of the consultation. He will then send to the Holy See a list (known as a "terna") of the (usually) three candidates that seem to be the most appropriate for consideration, together with all the information that has been gathered on them and accompanying the information with the conclusions that he himself draws from the evidence.

The congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for the appointment (one of the four indicated above) studies the documentation provided by the nuncio, taking into consideration his opinion, but not necessarily accepting it. It might even reject all the candidates he has proposed and ask him to prepare another list, or it might ask him to provide more information on one or more of the priests who have already been presented. When the Congregation decides on which priest should be appointed, it presents its conclusions to the pope, asking him to make the appointment. If he agrees, the papal act is communicated to the nuncio for him to obtain the consent of the priest to his appointment and to choose a date for its publication. The newly appointed bishop is obliged to get episcopal consecration within three months of the arrival the papal bull of his appointment, which is usually prepared only at least a month after the publication. If the consecration takes place within the diocese, he takes charge immediately. If it occurs elsewhere, a separate act is required, after the consecration, for taking possession of his new post.

Bringing the process to a conclusion obviously requires much time, usually taking at least nine months, and it may on occasions take up to two years.

The procedure described above is the normal one for the appointment of a diocesan bishop.

In some countries, the diocesan chapter or some other body decides on the three names to send, through the nuncio, to the Holy See. With the names, the nuncio sends the information he has gathered on the candidates. If none of the three candidates is acceptable to the Holy See, the chapter is asked for another list. However, the Holy See can reject the list in its entirety and appoint someone not proposed by the chapter.

 In other cases the cathedral chapter (college of clerics that advise a bishop) chooses the bishop from among a list of three presented to them by the Holy See.

Cathedral chapters participate in the election of bishops of 13 of the 27 German dioceses (Aachen, Cologne, Essen, Freiburg, Fulda, Hildesheim, Limburg, Mainz, Münster, Osnabrúck, Paderborn, Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Trier), 3 Swiss dioceses (Basel, Chur, Sankt Gallen), and 1 Austrian (Salzburg).

In the past, privileges regarding the appointment of bishops were granted to kings and other civil authorities. In accordance with the decision of the Second Vatican Council, the Code of Canon Law lays down that "for the future, no rights or privileges of election, appointment, presentation or designation of Bishops are conceded to civil authorities." In about a dozen countries, the civil government still has the right of consultation or even of presentation. However, it is up to the Pope to appoint. 

Appointment of an Auxillary Bishop

In the case of an auxiliary bishop, the diocesan bishop chooses the three priests to be presented for the appointment, but the nuncio still has the duty of gathering information and opinions on the candidates, and the Congregation can either select one of them or ask for a different list of candidates to be presented.

Qualifications to become a Bishop

Canon 378 §1 requires that a candidate for the episcopacy should be:

1. outstanding in solid faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence, and human virtues, and endowed with other qualities which make him suitable to fulfill the office in question;

2. of good reputation;

3. at least thirty-five years old;

4. ordained to the presbyterate for at least five years;

5. in possession of a doctorate or at least a licentiate in sacred scripture, theology, or canon law from an institute of higher studies approved by the Apostolic See, or at least truly expert in the same disciplines.

Other Types of Bishops

Bishops may fill additional roles in the Catholic Church including the following:

Pope

The pope is the man who possesses the sacrament of Holy Orders as a bishop and who has been chosen to be Bishop of Rome. Because the Catholic Church holds that the "College of Bishops" as a group is the successor of the "College of Apostles", the bishops of the Church in ecumenical council have the authority to govern the Church. However, the Church also holds that uniquely among the apostles Saint Peter was granted a role of leadership and authority, giving him the right to speak for the Church and making his leadership necessary for the completion of the College.

Hence, Catholicism holds that the Bishop of Rome, as successor of Peter, possesses this role: the Pope, uniquely among bishops, may speak for the whole Church, and a council of bishops is incomplete without the approval of the pope. The right to speak on behalf of the Catholic Church does not mean that the pronouncements of any given pope - even in matters of faith and morals - are imbued with papal infallibility; for such a statement to be made it must be subject to the decree of the First Vatican Council, and has been done so only once since that time (Pius XII's declaration of the Assumption of Mary in 1950).

Catholicos

Catholicos is an Eastern title roughly similar to that of patriarch. In the Catholic Church it is applied to a prelate who is also a major archbishop.

Major Archbishop

Major archbishops are the heads of some of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The major archbishops' authority within their respective sui juris churches is equal to that of a patriarch, but they receive fewer ceremonial honours.

Cardinal

A cardinal is a member of the clergy appointed by the Pope to serve in the College of Cardinals, the body empowered to elect someone to the papacy; however, on turning 80 a cardinal loses this right of election. Cardinals also serve as papal advisors and hold positions of authority within the structure of the Catholic Church. Under canon law, a man appointed a cardinal must be a bishop (or accept episcopal ordination); otherwise, he may seek papal permission to decline such ordination. Most cardinals are already bishops when appointed, the majority being archbishops of important archdioceses or patriarchates, the rest already serving as titular bishops in the Roman Curia. 

Primate or Patriarch

A primate is usually the bishop of the oldest diocese of a nation; the title is one of honour. The title of Patriarch or Primate gives a prerogative of honour, but in the latin Church does not carry with it any power of governance, except in certain matters where an apostolic privilege or approved custom establishes otherwise. (Can. 438)

Archbishop

An archbishop (from Greek ἀρχι-, chief, and ἐπίσκοπος, bishop) is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest (presbyter), and bishop. Accordingly, a person does not become an archbishop by ordination.

In processions and other occasions for strict protocol, archbishops precede simple bishops.

Metropolitan Archbishop

An ecclesiastical province (group of sees or dioceses) is presided over by a Metropolitan, who is Archbishop in his own diocese. The office of Metropolitan is linked to an episcopal see, determined or approved by the Roman Pontiff.

For example, The Archdiocese of New York is the metropolitan see of the ecclesiastical province of New York which includes the suffragan dioceses of Brooklyn, Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Ogdensburg, and Rockville Centre.

Within the suffragan dioceses, the Metropolitan is competent:

1. to see that faith and ecclesiastical discipline are carefully observed and to notify the Roman Pontiff if there be any abuses;

2. for a reason approved beforehand by the Apostolic See (Pope), to conduct a canonical visitation if the suffragan Bishop has neglected it;

3. to appoint a diocesan Administrator in accordance with canon law (421 §2 and 425 §3).

Where circumstances require it, the Apostolic See (Pope) can give the Metropolitan special functions and power over suffragan dioceses, to be determined in particular law. The Metropolitan has no other power of governance over suffragan dioceses. He can, however, celebrate sacred functions in all churches as if he were a Bishop in his own diocese, provided, if it is the cathedral church, the diocesan Bishop has been previously notified.

In short, A metropolitan bishop is an archbishop with minor jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province; in practice this amounts to presiding at meetings and overseeing a diocese which has no bishop.

Pallium 

The Metropolitan is obliged to request the pallium from the Roman Pontiff, either personally or by proxy, within three months of his episcopal consecration or, if he has already been consecrated, of his canonical appointment. The pallium signifies the power which, in communion with the Roman Church, the Metropolitan possesses by law in his own province.

The Metropolitan can wear the pallium, in accordance with the liturgical laws, in any church of the ecclesiastical province over which he presides, but not outside the province, not even with the assent of the diocesan Bishop.

If the Metropolitan is transferred to another metropolitan see, he requires a new pallium.

In the Latin Church, metropolitans are always archbishops. In many Eastern churches, the title is "metropolitan," with some of these churches using "archbishop" as a separate office.

Non-metropolitan archiepiscopal sees

As well as the much more numerous metropolitan sees, there are 77 Roman Catholic sees that have archiepiscopal rank. In some cases, such a see is the only one in a country, such as Luxembourg, Singapore or Monaco, too small to be divided into several dioceses so as to form an ecclesiastical province. In others, the title of archdiocese is for historical reasons attributed to a see that was once of greater importance.

Some of these archdioceses are suffragans of a metropolitan archdiocese. An example is the Archdiocese of Avignon, which is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Marseille. Others are immediately subject to the Holy See and not to any metropolitan archdiocese. These are usually "aggregated" to an ecclesiastical province. An example is the Archdiocese of Hobart in Australia, associated with the Metropolitan ecclesiastical province of Melbourne, but not part of it.

Titular Archbishop or Titular Bishop

A titular archbishop or titular bishop is a bishop assigned to a titular see, which is usually the name of a city or town that used to be the seat of a diocese, but whose episcopal see (diocese) is no longer in existence. Titular bishops often serve as auxiliary bishops, as officials in the Roman Curia, in the Patriarchal Curias of Eastern Churches, as apostolic nuncios or apostolic delegates. In recent times, exceptions to this are that a coadjutor bishop uses the title of the see he is assigned to, and a bishop or archbishop emeritus uses the title of his last residential see.

The distinction between metropolitan sees and non-metropolitan archiepiscopal sees exists for titular sees as well as for residential ones. The Annuario Pontificio marks titular sees of the former class with the abbreviation Metr. and the others with Arciv.

Many of the titular sees to which nuncios and heads of departments of the Roman Curia who are not cardinals are assigned are not of archiepiscopal rank. In that case the person who is appointed to such a position is given the personal title of archbishop (ad personam). They are usually referred to as Archbishop of the see, not as its Archbishop-Bishop.

Archbishop ad personam

The rank of archbishop is conferred on some bishops who are not ordinaries of an archdiocese. They hold the rank not because of the see that they head but because it has been granted to them personally ("ad personam"). Such a grant can be given when someone who already holds the rank of archbishop is transferred to a see that, though its present-day importance may be greater than the person's former see, is not archiepiscopal. 

The bishop transferred is then known as the Archbishop-Bishop of his new see. An example is Gianfranco Gardin, appointed Archbishop-Bishop of Treviso on 21 December 2009. The title borne by the successor of such an archbishop-bishop is merely that of Bishop of the see, unless he also is granted the personal title of Archbishop.

Suffragan Bishop

A suffragan bishop leads a diocese within an ecclesiastical province other than the principal diocese, the metropolitan archdiocese.

Auxiliary Bishop

An auxiliary bishop is a full-time assistant to a diocesan bishop. Auxiliaries are titular bishops without the right of succession, who assist the diocesan bishop in a variety of ways and are usually appointed as vicars general or episcopal vicars of the diocese in which they serve. 

Coadjutor Bishop or Coadjutor Archbishop

A coadjutor bishop is a bishop who is given almost equal authority to that of the diocesan bishop or archbishop. He has special faculties and the right to succeed the incumbent diocesan bishop or archbishop. The appointment of coadjutors is seen as a means of providing for continuity of church leadership. 

Retired Bishops & Archbishops

When a diocesan bishop, archbishop or auxiliary bishop retires, he is given the honorary title of "emeritus", i.e., archbishop emeritus, bishop emeritus, or auxiliary bishop emeritus. An example in usage would be: "Most Reverend John Jones, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Anytown." For a cardinal, it would be: "James Cardinal Smith, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Anycity." For the (arch)bishop of a diocese, "emeritus" is inserted into the title for the last diocese that (arch)bishop occupied.

As the retired bishop of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI received the title pope emeritus or Roman Pontiff emeritus upon his resignation.

Symbols of Office

Bishops wear certain regalia which are distinctive of the Order of Bishop, the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders - the pectoral cross, ring, mitre, crozier (staff) and pallium (for metropolitans).

Pectoral Cross

When putting on the pectoral cross, traditionally the bishop says, "Munire me digneris," asking the Lord for strength and protection against all evil and all enemies, and to be mindful of His passion and cross.

Episcopal Ring

The Bishop always wears the ring, like a wedding band, the symbol of fidelity and nuptial bond with the Church, his spouse. In days long ago, the ring was used to make the imprint of the bishop's seal in the hot wax to authenticate documents. 

In Catholic tradition, to reverence or "kiss" the ring of the bishop as a sign of respect for his authority is still proper; interestingly, a partial indulgence was attached to the reverencing of the bishop's ring.

For the faithful who devoutly kiss a prelate's ring, they are granted an associated indulgence. Kissing the ring of the Holy Father, they earn an indulgence of 300 days. Of a cardinal: an indulgence of 100 days, and a patriarch, archbishop, or bishop, or prefect apostolic: an indulgence of 50 days. It is never improper to kiss the episcopal ring.

Crozier

The crozier, or officially the pastoral staff (baculus pastoralis), symbolizes the role of bishop as the Good Shepherd. In the Gospel of St. John (10:1-21), our Lord identified Himself as the Good Shepherd. The word translated as “Agood" in the original Greek text is kalos, which also means "model." Our Lord is the model shepherd for the apostles and their successors, the bishops, who are appointed as shepherds. The bishop, like a good shepherd, must lead his faithful flock along the path of salvation, disciplining and protecting them as needed. The shepherd's staff is therefore a most appropriate symbol for the office of bishop. It is only used when celebrating the liturgy solemnly. When several bishops join in a single celebration, only the one presiding uses a crosier.

A bishop’s crozier is in the shape of a shepherds' crook. A bishop usually holds his crosier with his left hand, crook towards the people or forward leaving his right hand free to bestow blessings. 

A bishop usually holds the crosier during a procession and when listening to the reading of the Gospel, giving a homily, accepting vows, solemn promises or a profession of faith, and when blessing people,unless he must lay his hands on them. When the bishop is not holding the crosier, it is put in the care of an altar server, known as the "crosier bearer", who may wear a shawl-like veil around his shoulders called a vimpa, so as to hold the crosier without touching it with his bare hands. 

The crosier is conferred upon a bishop during his ordination to the episcopacy. It is also presented to an abbot at his blessing, an ancient custom symbolizing his shepherding of the monastic community. 

Mitre

In the Catholic Church, the right to wear the mitre is confined by Canon law to bishops and to abbots, as it appears in the ceremony of consecration of a bishop and blessing of an abbot. 

The proper colour of a mitre is always white, although in liturgical usage white also includes vestments made from gold and silver fabrics. The embroidered bands and other ornaments which adorn a mitre and the lappets may be of other colours and often are. 

An altar server, likewise wearing a vimpa, holds the mitre, when the bishop is not wearing it.

Title & Style

Because of their function as teachers of the faith, it is customary in some English-speaking countries, to add to the names of bishops the postnominal title of "D.D." (Doctor of Divinity) and to refer to them with the title "Doctor".

The Pope addresses Bishops as “Venerable Brother”

A Bishop is introduced as “His Most Reverend Excellency, (First and Last Name), Bishop of (Location).” 

He should be directly addressed as “Your Excellency” or “Monsignor” or “Bishop (Last Name)” 

Bishops are qualified by the adjectival phrase “The Most Reverend”. 

On paper addressed as ““His Excellency, The Most Reverend Monsignor (First Name and Last Name), Bishop of (Location)”.

Archbishop

During a formal introduction, an Archbishop should be introduced in the same way listed above for a Bishop. However in some countries, it is common practice to address an Archbishop as “His Grace". 

An Archbishop is formally introduced as “His Grace, (First and Last Name), Archbishop of (Location)” or “His Most Reverend Excellency, (First and Last Name), Archbishop of (Location).”

He is directly addressed as “Your Grace” or “Your Excellency” or “Archbishop (Last Name)” 

On paper addressed as “His Grace, The Most Reverend Monsignor (First Name and Last Name), Archbishop of (Location)”. 

Patriarch

Patriarch should be introduced as “His Beatitude, (First and Last Name) Patriarch of (Location).” 

He should be directly addressed as “Your Beatitude”

Cardinal

If an Archbishop is a Cardinal, he should be introduced as “His Eminence, (First Name) Cardinal (Last Name), Archbishop of (Location).” 

He should be directly addressed as “Your Eminence” or “Cardinal (Last Name)” 

On paper, as “His Eminence, (First Name) Cardinal (Last Name), Archbishop of (Location).”

A Bishop's signature is preceded with a cross (+) in both written and printed form.

Protocol

Note that you should stand when a Bishop, Archbishop or Patriarch enters a room (until he invites you to sit) and again when he leaves it. Remove your hat in his presence, and you may kiss the sacred ring during both the greeting and the closing. If he is your own Bishop, you may kneel when kissing the ring (though bowing at the waist is also acceptable). However, do not do either if the Pope is present.

Coat of Arms

A bishop is entitled to a personal coat of arms.

The coat of arms of a bishop is indicated by a green galero (wide-brimmed ecclesiastical hat) with 6 green tassels on each side in 3 rows (the motto and escutcheon-shield are proper to the individual bishop). The single horizontal bar cross signifies the rank of a bishop. (archbishops, cardinals or patriarchs use a double bar cross).

An archbishop has a green galero (an ecclesiastical hat) with 10 green tassels in 4 rows on each side of his coat of arms.  The motto and escutcheon-shield are proper to the individual archbishop. The archiepiscopal cross behind the shield has two bars instead of one. Such a cross may be borne before him in liturgical processions.

A metropolitan archbishop may add the pallium to his coat of arms.

Vestments

Choir Dress

• Purple wool choir cassock trimmed in crimson silk

• Purple silk rabat, purple stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Rochet

     

• Pectoral cross suspended from a cord of green silk entwined with gold

• Purple wool mozzetta trimmed in crimson silk, or on very solemn feasts purple wool cappa magna with crimson silk cape

• Purple silk skullcap (with crimson lining) 

• Purple silk or wool biretta with purple tuft (and green lining)

• Episcopal Ring

Pian Dress

• Black wool cassock or simar trimmed in amaranth red silk

• Purple silk rabat, purple or black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes

• Pectoral cross suspended from a chain

• Purple silk ferraiolone worn only on more solemn occasions and always optional

• Purple silk skullcap (with crimson lining)

• Black plush hat (with green lining) and optionally cords and tassels of green silk, or less formally purple silk or wool biretta with purple tuft (and green lining) optional

• Episcopal Ring

Daily Dress

• Black wool cassock trimmed in black silk (no pellegrina)

• Purple silk rabat or black wool rabat, black stockings, and black shoes without buckles

• Purple silk sash with fringes optional

• Pectoral cross suspended from a chain

• Purple silk skullcap (with crimson lining) optional

• Any suitable hat optional

• Episcopal Ring

Clerical Suits

Alternative to the cassock, Bishops and Archbishops put on clerical suits which is often a pair of black trousers, black clerical shirt with clerical collar. This is no different to what a priest might wear as daily dress alternative to the cassock. 

The distinguishing difference is that bishops and archbishops will wear a pectoral cross suspended by gold or silver chain (not chord). The usual shirt colour is black but they are free to use other colours such as grey or light blue shirts or a grey suit. 

The zucchetto is never worn with a suit. It is only worn with a cassock.