View source for Primate (bishop)

{{Short description|High-ranking bishop in certain Christian churches}}
{{Other uses|Primate (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Primas}}
{{Catholic Church Hierarchy}}
'''Primate''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|aɪ|m|ə|t}}) is a title or rank bestowed on some important archbishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority ([[title of authority]]) or (usually) ceremonial precedence ([[title of honour]]).

=={{anchor|Catholic}}Catholic Church==
{{See also|Catholic Church hierarchy#Primates|Bishop (Catholic Church)#Primate}}
In the [[Latin Church]], a primate is an [[archbishop]]&mdash;or, rarely, a [[suffragan]] or [[Exemption (church)|exempt]] [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]]&mdash;of a specific (mostly metropolitan) [[episcopal see]] (called a ''primatial see'') who has precedence over the bishoprics of one or more [[ecclesiastical province]]s of a particular historical, political or cultural area. Historically, primates of particular sees were granted privileges including the authority to call and preside at national [[synod]]s, jurisdiction to hear appeals from [[metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]] tribunals, the right to crown the sovereign of the nation, and presiding at the [[investiture]] (installation) of archbishops in their sees.<ref name=ce>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Primate}}</ref>

[[File:Template-Patriarch (Latin_Rite) - Primate.svg|left|thumb|Catholic Primate (non-cardinal) coat of arms]]
The office is generally found only in older Catholic countries, and is now purely honorific, enjoying no effective powers under [[canon law (Catholic Church)|canon law]]—except for the [[archbishop of Esztergom]] (Gran) in Hungary.<ref name=ce/> Thus, e.g., the [[primate of Poland]] holds no jurisdictional authority over other Polish bishops or their dioceses, but is ''durante munere'' a member of the standing committee of the episcopal conference, and has honorary precedence among Polish bishops (e.g., in liturgical ceremonies). The Holy See has also granted Polish primates the privilege of wearing cardinal's crimson attire, except for the skullcap and [[biretta]], even if they have not been made [[cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinals]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06590b.htm| title = Joseph Lins, "Gniesen-Posen" in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' (New York 1909)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15555a.htm| title = Aurelio Palmieri, "Archdiocese of Warsaw" in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' (New York, 1912)}}</ref>

Where the title of primate exists, it may be vested in one of the oldest archdioceses in a country, often based in a city other than the present capital, but which was the capital when the country was first Christianized. The city may no longer have the prominence it had when the title was granted. The political area over which primacy was originally granted may no longer exist: for example, the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toledo|Archbishop of Toledo]] was designated "Primate of the [[Visigothic Kingdom]]", and the [[Archbishop of Lyon]] is the "[[Primate of the Gauls]]".<ref name=ce/> The title of Primate can, therefore, also be disputed between different Archdioceses who, at some point, held proeminence over a shifting territory; such is the dispute over the [[Primacy of the Spains]] that was fought over by the Archdioceses of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga|Braga]], Toledo and [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela|Santiago de Compostela]]. After the founding of [[Portugal]], the Archbishop of [[Braga]] held precedence over all other archbishops in the country, though his role declined under the rise of the [[Patriarchate of Lisbon|Archdiocese of Lisbon]], which culminated in 1716, when Archbishop [[Tomás de Almeida]] (1670–1754) was elevated to [[Patriarch]].

Some of the leadership functions once exercised by Primates, specifically presiding at meetings of the bishops of a nation or region, are now exercised by the president of the [[conference of bishops]]: "The president of the Conference or, when he is lawfully impeded, the vice-president, presides not only over the general meetings of the Conference but also over the permanent committee."<ref>{{Cite book|editor1-last=Beal|editor1-first=John P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JKgZEjvB5cEC&q=President%2520of%2520the%2520Episcopal%2520conference|title=New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law|editor2-last=Coriden|editor2-first=James A.|editor3-last=Green|editor3-first=Thomas Joseph|date=2000|publisher=Paulist Press|isbn=978-0-8091-4066-4|page=595
| author1= John G. Johnson
| chapter= Book II Part II Section II Title II Chapter IV: Conferences of Bishops
}}</ref> The president is generally elected by the conference, but by exception the President of the [[Italian Episcopal Conference]] is appointed by the Pope, and the [[Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference]] has the [[Primate of All Ireland]] as president and the [[Primate of Ireland]] as vice-president. Other former functions of primates, such as hearing appeals from [[Ecclesiastical court|metropolitan tribunal]]s, were reserved to the [[Holy See]] by the early 20th century.<ref name=ce/> Soon after, by the norm of the Code of Canon Law of 1917, confirmed in the 1983 Code, the tribunal of second instance for appeals from a metropolitan tribunal is "the tribunal which the metropolitan has designated in a stable manner with the approval of the Apostolic See".<ref>{{Cite book|editor1-last=Beal|editor1-first=John P.|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JKgZEjvB5cEC&q=tribunal%2520of%2520second%2520instance%2520%2522canon%2520law%2522&pg=PA1631|title=New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law|editor2-last=Coriden|editor2-first=James A.|editor3-last=Green|editor3-first=Thomas Joseph|date=2000|publisher=Paulist Press|isbn=978-0-8091-4066-4|page=1631
| chapter= Book VII Part I Title II Chapter II: The Tribunal of Second Instance
| author1= Lawrence G. Wrenn
}}</ref>

The closest equivalent position in the Eastern Churches in 1911 was an [[exarch#Ecclesiastical exarchs|Exarch]].<ref name=ce/>

The Holy See has continued in modern times to grant the title of Primate. With the [[papal decree]] ''Sollicitae Romanis Pontificibus'' of 24 January 1956 it granted the title of Primate of Canada to the Archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec|Quebec]].<ref>{{Cite book|publisher=Église catholique. Diocèse de Québec (Québec)|url=https://archive.org/details/mandementslettre18glis/page/n48/mode/1up?view=theater|title=Mandements, lettres pastorales et circulaires des évêques de Québec|editor1-last=Têtu|editor1-first=Henri|editor2-last=Gagnon|editor2-first=Charles Octave|date=1967|pages=44–46|language=fr}}</ref> As stated above, this is merely an honorary title involving no additional power.<ref>{{Cite book|editor1-last=Bramadat|editor1-first=Paul|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4HzXN4HQkQC&q=%2522primate%2520of%2520the%2520Roman%2520Catholic%2520Church%2520in%2520Canada%2522&pg=PA131|title=Christianity and Ethnicity in Canada|editor2-last=Seljak|editor2-first=David|date=2008|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-9584-8|pages=101–137
| author1= Solange Lefebvre
| chapter= The Francophone Roman Catholic Church 
}}</ref>{{rp|131}}

A right of precedence over other bishops and similar privileges can be granted even to a bishop who is not a Primate. Thus, in 1858, the Holy See granted the [[Archbishop of Baltimore]] precedence in meetings of the United States bishops.<ref>{{CathEncy |wstitle= Archdiocese of Baltimore}}</ref> The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster|Archbishop of Westminster]] has not been granted the title of Primate of England and Wales, which is sometimes applied to him, but his position has been described as that of "Chief Metropolitan" and as "similar to" that of the Archbishop of Canterbury.<ref>" As Ordinary of the Diocese of Westminster his jurisdiction extends over much the same area as that of the Bishop of London. As chief Metropolitan, he occupies a position similar to that of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England" ({{CathEncy|wstitle=Archdiocese of Westminster}}). "By the grant in the [[Apostolic Constitution]] of 'certain new distinctions of preeminence', for the preservation of unity in government and policy, to the Archbishop of Westminster for the time being, comprised under the following three heads: He will be permanent chairman of the meetings of the Bishops of all England and Wales, and for this reason it will be for him to summon these meetings and to preside over them, according to the rules in force in Italy and elsewhere. (2) He will take rank above the other two Archbishops, and will throughout all England and Wales enjoy the privilege of wearing the [[Pallium]], of occupying the throne, and of having the cross borne before him. (3) Lastly, in all dealings with the Supreme Civil Authority, he will in his person represent the entire Episcopate of England and Wales. Always, however, he is to take the opinion of all the Bishops, and to be guided by the votes of the major part of them'. Thus, though the Archbishop of Westminster was vested with more powers and privileges than Primates usually enjoy, unity of action has been safeguarded" ({{CathEncy|wstitle=Reorganization_of_the_English_Hierarchy}}).</ref>

The title of Primate is sometimes applied loosely to the Archbishop of a country's capital, as in the case of the Archbishops of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul|Seoul]] in South Korea and of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh|Edinburgh]] in Scotland.

The pre-reformation metropolitan [[Archdiocese of Nidaros|Archbishop of Nidaros]] was sometimes referred to as Primate of Norway,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://old.fortidsminneforeningen.no/properties/59/111 | title= Steinvikholm fortress ruin
|work=Fortidsminneforeningen |access-date=2014-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131504/http://old.fortidsminneforeningen.no/properties/59/111 |archive-date=2014-07-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> even though it is unlikely that this title ever was officially granted to him by the Holy See.

=== Catholic primatial sees ===
The heads of certain [[episcopal see|sees]] have at times been referred to, at least by themselves,<ref name=Dainville>{{Cite book|last=Dainville|first=François de|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I6v1st4ny8YC&q=%2522droit%2520de%2520primatie%2522&pg=PA275|title=Cartes anciennes de l'église de France: historique, répertoire, guide d'usage|date=1956|publisher=Vrin|isbn=978-2-7116-8055-9|language=fr| page= 275}}</ref> as primates: 
;In Europe
{{div col}}
* [[Austria]] &ndash; [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg|Salzburg]]
* [[Catholic Church in Belgium|Belgium]] &ndash; [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels|Mechelen(-Brussels)]] (1560)<ref name="CathEncy|wstitle=Mechlin">{{CathEncy|wstitle=Mechlin}}</ref>
* [[Czech Republic]] (formerly [[Bohemia]]) &ndash; [[Archbishop of Prague|Prague]] (1344–),<ref name=ha/><ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Archdiocese of Prague}}</ref>
* [[Catholic Church in Bulgaria|Bulgaria]] &ndash; [[Veliko Tarnovo]] 1204–1235, Primate of Bulgaria and Vlachia (in Bulgaria)
* [[Croatia]] &ndash; [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Split-Makarska|Split]] (13th century - 1828)<ref>Krmpotic, Martin Davorin. in {{CathEncy|wstitle=Dalmatia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Matanić|first=Athanasius|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E7IhuAAACAAJ|title=De origine tituli "Dalmatiae ac totius Croatiae primas": Studium histor.-crit|date=1952|publisher=Sublaci|language=en}}</ref><ref>[http://ubsm.bg.ac.rs/engleski/dokument/1627/notizie-intorno-alla-vita-di-quattro-arcivescovi-di-spalatro-primati-della-dalmazia-e-di-tutta-la-croazia-che-furono-della-congreg-di-somasca-chiari-per-dottrina-e-virtu-apostoliche-raccolte-da-d-ottavio-maria-paltrinieri-vicario-generale-di-detta-congregazione Ottavio Maria Paltrinieri, Notizie intorno alla vita di quattro Arcivescovi di Spalatro, Primati della Dalmazia e di tutta la Croazia] (Roma, 1829)</ref>
* [[Catholic Church in France|France]]
**[[Ancient Diocese of Arles|Arles]] &ndash; Gaul and Spain<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Archdiocese_of_Aix}}</ref>
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Auch|Auch]] &ndash; Novempopulania and the kingdom of Navarre<ref name=Dainville/>
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bordeaux|Bordeaux]] &ndash; [[Aquitaine]]<ref name=Dainville/><ref name="CathEncy|wstitle=Bordeaux">{{CathEncy|wstitle=Bordeaux}}</ref>
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bourges|Bourges]] &ndash; Aquitaine (8th century)<ref name=Dainville/><ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Bourges}}</ref>
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lyon|Lyons]] &ndash; the [[Gaul]]s, i.e., the provinces called [[Gallia Lugdunensis|Lugdunenses]]<ref name=ce/><ref name=Dainville/>
**[[Ancient Diocese of Narbonne|Narbonne]]<ref name=ce/><ref name=Dainville/>
**[[Diocese of Nancy|Nancy]] &ndash; [[Lorraine]] title received in 1602. This is a notable exception, considering the fact that Nancy became a bishopric in 1777.
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims|Reims]]<ref name=ce/>
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rouen|Rouen]] &ndash; [[Primate of Normandy]]<ref name=Dainville/><ref name=ha/><ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Archdiocese of Rouen}}</ref>
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sens|Sens]] &ndash; Gauls and Germany<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Sens}}</ref>
**[[Ancient Diocese of Vienne|Vienne]] &ndash; Burgundy, Primate of Primates<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Grenoble}}</ref> 
*[[Roman Catholicism in Germany|Germany]]
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz|Mainz]] &ndash; Germany 798-1802<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Mainz}}</ref>
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier|Trier]]<ref name=ce/>
**[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Magdeburg|Magdeburg]]<ref name=ce/>
* [[Roman Catholicism in Hungary|Hungary]]
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest|Esztergom]], known as Gran in German.
*[[Catholic Church in Ireland|Ireland]]
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh|Armagh]] &ndash; [[Primacy of Ireland|All Ireland]]<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Armagh}}</ref><ref name=Ireland/>
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin|Dublin]] &ndash; [[Primacy of Ireland|Ireland]]<ref name=Ireland>{{Cite book|last=Murray|first=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kvFpuRoiL24C&q=Murray%2520%2522quietly%2520annexed%2522&pg=PA42|title=Enforcing the English Reformation in Ireland: Clerical Resistance and Political Conflict in the Diocese of Dublin, 1534-1590|date=2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-36994-7|pages=41–43}}{{pb}}{{ cite book | last= MacGeoghegan| first= James|title= The History of Ireland, Ancient and Modern |date=1844|publisher= James Duffy|place= Dublin|page= 337
}}</ref>
* [[Italy]] &ndash; [[See of Rome|Rome (the Papacy)]]<ref name=ha/>
* [[Catholic Church in Montenegro|Montenegro]]
** [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar|Bar]]
* [[Netherlands]] - [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht|Utrecht]]
* [[Catholic Church in Poland|Poland]]
** [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gniezno|Gniezno]] - [[List of archbishops of Gniezno and primates of Poland|Poland]] and [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] - ([[Council of Constance|1418]])<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Archdiocese of Gnesen-Posen}}</ref>
** [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Warsaw|Warsaw]] - Kingdom of Poland 1815-1829 and 1925-1938
* [[Catholic Church in Portugal|Portugal]]
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga|Braga]] - Primacy of the Spains, i.e., the Iberian Peninsula (since 440-446 d.C.)
* [[Sardinia]]
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagliari|Cagliari]], (&ndash; 1158, 1409&ndash;)
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pisa|Pisa]] &ndash; [[Sardinia]] & [[Corsica]] (1158&ndash;)<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Archdiocese of Cagliari}}</ref> 
* [[Catholic Church in Scotland|Scotland]]
**[[Bishop of Dunkeld|Dunkeld]] c. 844<ref name=Scotland>By royal grant ({{CathEncy|wstitle=Scotland}}) but refused by the Holy See: {{Cite book|last=Barrow|first=G. W. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZZTk5S-kLcoC&q=Barrow%2520primacy%2520%2522refused%2520by%2520the%2520papacy%2522&pg=PA69
| series= The new history of Scotland, volume 2
|title=Kingship and Unity: Scotland 1000-1306|date=1981|publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=978-0-7486-0104-2 |page=69}}</ref>
**[[Bishop of Dunblane|Abernethy]] ca. 844&ndash;908<ref name=Scotland/>
**[[Archbishop of St Andrews|St Andrews]] 908&ndash;<ref name=Scotland/>
* [[Sicily]]
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Siracusa|Syracuse]], during the [[1st millennium]], recognized by [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Patriarchate of Constantinople]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OLMAAAAAcAAJ&dq=primate+di+sicilia&pg=PA432|title = Storia ecclesiastica di Sicilia di Giovanni di Giovanni continuata sino al secolo XIX dal Padre Salv. Lanza|last1 = Giovanni|first1 = Giovanni di|year = 1846}}</ref>
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palermo|Palermo]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kVtIAAAAYAAJ&dq=primate+di+sicilia&pg=PR128|title=Documenti per servire alla storia di Sicilia|year=1888}}</ref>
* [[Catholic Church in Spain|Spain]]
**[[Primacy of the Diocese of Toledo|Toledo]] &ndash; [[Visigothic Kingdom]],<ref name=ce/> Spain<ref name=ha/> (Bull of 1088)<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Toledo}}</ref>
**[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tarragona|Tarragona]] - Spains, Catalonia<ref>{{cite web |last1=Albiñana y de Borrás |first1=Juan Francisco |title=La primacía de Tarragona |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/159261365.pdf |access-date=20 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tarragona, "Hispaniarum primas" de las Españas |url=https://www.abc.es/espana/20140420/abci-tarragona-hispaniarum-primas-espanas-201404191724.html |website=ABC España |date=20 April 2014 |access-date=20 February 2023}}</ref>
* [[Latin Church in Ukraine|Ukraine]]
** [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv|Lviv]] - Galicia and Lodomeria 1817-1858
* [[Patriarch of Venice|Venice]] &ndash; for [[Dalmatia]] (in [[Croatia]])<ref name=ha/>
{{div col end}}
{{div col}}
;Elsewhere
* [[Episcopal see of Carthage|Carthage]] &ndash; [[Roman Catholicism in Africa|Africa]] ancient, [[Pope Leo IX]]: 1893 <!-- "The title Primate of Africa was restored again in 1893 by Leo XIII in favour of the Archbishop of Carthage" --><ref name=ce/> <!-- Leo IX: "There can be no doubt that after the Roman Pontiff the first Bishop of Nubia, and indeed the principal Metropolitan of Africa is the Bishop of Carthage"--><ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Africa}}</ref>
* [[Catholic Church in Canada|Canada]] - [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec|Quebec]] (1956)
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman|Archdiocese of Goa and Damaon]], primatial see of the East, more specifically the [[East Indies]]
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santo Domingo|Archdiocese of Santo Domingo]], primatial (and oldest) see of the Indies<ref>{{cite web |title=Concordato entre la Santa Sede y la República Dominicana |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/archivio/documents/rc_seg-st_19540616_concordato-dominicana_sp.html |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia|Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia]], primatial of Brazil ([[1551]]).
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago del Estero|Archdiocese of Santiago del Estero]] (transferred by Pope Francis in 2024)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/07/22/0584/01196.html |title= Rinunce e nomine, 22.07.2024|website=Bollettino Sala Stampa della Santa Sede |access-date= 23 July 2024}}.</ref> [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Buenos Aires|Archdiocese of Buenos Aires]] &ndash; Argentina (1936–2024) (the title was granted under [[Pope Pius XI]] on 29 January 1936).<ref>[http://www.episcopado.org/portal/obispos-y-diocesis/d%C3%ADocesis-de-argentina/101-arquidiocesis-de-buenos-aires.html Episcopal Conference of Argentina: "Arquidiócesis de Buenos Aires"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514012935/http://www.episcopado.org/portal/obispos-y-diocesis/d%C3%ADocesis-de-argentina/101-arquidiocesis-de-buenos-aires.html |date=2013-05-14 }}.</ref>
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico|Archdiocese of Mexico]], primatial of Mexico (granted by [[Pope Pius XII]] on 18 July 1951)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.religiondigital.org/sursum_corda_el_blog_de_guillermo_gazanini/anos-titulo-Primado-Mexico_7_1813088709.html|work=Religión Digital|lang=es|date=19 July 2016|title=65 años del título de Primado de México|first=Guillermo|last=Gazanini}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==== Until the Counterreformation ====
* [[Catholic Church in England and Wales|England]] 
**[[Archbishop of Canterbury|Canterbury]], [[Primacy of Canterbury|All England]] (597-1558)<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Canterbury}}</ref>
**[[Archbishop of York|York]], England (-1558)<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Ancient See of York}}</ref>
* [[Diocese of Lund|Lund]], [[Scandinavia]]
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest|Esztergom]], [[Roman Catholicism in Hungary|Hungary]]<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Archdiocese of Gran}}</ref>

==== At the First Vatican Council ====
<small>''Source''</small><ref name=ce/>
{{div col}}
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh|Armagh]], [[Primacy of Ireland|All Ireland]]
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar|Antivari]], [[Roman Catholicism in Montenegro|Montenegro]]
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest|Esztergom]], [[Roman Catholicism in Hungary|Hungary]]<ref name=ce/>
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gniezno|Gniezno]], [[Roman Catholicism in Poland|Poland]]<ref name=ha/>
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels|Mechlin-Brussels]], [[Roman Catholicism in Belgium|Belgium]] (1560)<ref name="CathEncy|wstitle=Mechlin"/>
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno|Salerno]]
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia|São Salvador da Bahia]], [[Roman Catholicism in Brazil|Brazil]]
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg|Salzburg]], [[Roman Catholicism in Austria|Austria]]<ref name=ha>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Hierarchy}}</ref>
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tarragona|Tarragona]], [[Roman Catholicism in Spain|Spain]]<ref name=ha/>
{{div col end}}

===Regular clergy equivalent===
In the modern confederation of the [[Benedictine Order]], all the Black Monks of St. Benedict were united under the presidency of an '''Abbot Primate''' (Leo XIII, ''Summum semper'', 12 July 1893); but the unification, fraternal in its nature, brought no modification to the abbatial dignity, and the various congregations preserved their autonomy intact. The loose structure of the Benedictine Confederation is claimed to have made [[Pope Leo XIII]] exclaim that the Benedictines were ''ordo sine ordine'' ("an order without order"). The powers of the [[Abbot]] Primate are specified, and his position defined, in a decree of the [[Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars]] dated 16 September 1893. The primacy is attached to the global [[Benedictine Confederation]] whose Primate resides at [[Sant'Anselmo]] in [[Rome]]. He takes precedence of all other abbots, is empowered to pronounce on all doubtful matters of discipline, to settle difficulties arising between monasteries, to hold a canonical visitation, if necessary, in any congregation of the order, and to exercise a general supervision for the regular observance of monastic discipline. The Primatial powers are only vested in the Abbot Primate to act by virtue of the proper law of its autonomous Benedictine congregation, which at the present is minimal to none. However, certain branches of the Benedictine Order seem to have lost their original autonomy to some extent.
 
In a similar way the Confederation of [[Canons Regular of St. Augustine]], elects an Abbot Primate as figurehead of the Confederation and indeed the whole Canonical Order. The Abbots and Superiors General of the nine congregations of confederated congregations of [[Canons Regular]] elect a new Abbot Primate for a term of office lasting six years. The Current Abbot Primate is Rt Rev. Fr Jean-Michel Girard, CRB, Abbot General of the Canons Regular of the Grand St Bernard.

== Anglicanism ==
Anglican usage styles the bishop who heads an independent church as its "primate", though commonly they hold some other title (e.g. archbishop, presiding bishop, or moderator). The primates' authority within their churches varies considerably: some churches give the primate some executive authority, while in others they may do no more than preside over church councils and represent the church ceremonially.

===Anglican Communion===
{{Main|Primates in the Anglican Communion}}
In the context of the [[Anglican Communion Primates' Meeting]], the chief [[bishop]] of each of the thirty-nine churches (also known as provinces) that compose the [[Anglican Communion]] acts as its primate, though this title may not necessarily be used within their own provinces. Thus the [[United Church]]es of Bangladesh, of North India, of Pakistan and of South India, which are united with other originally non-Anglican churches, are represented at the meetings by their moderators.<ref name=AC>{{cite web| url = http://www.anglicancommunion.org/communion/primates/definition.cfm| title = Anglican Communion: "What Is a Primate?"}}</ref>

In both the [[Church of England]] and the [[Church of Ireland]], two bishops have the title of primate: the archbishops of [[Archbishop of Canterbury|Canterbury]] and [[Archbishop of York|York]] in England and of [[Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)|Armagh]] and [[Archbishop of Dublin (Church of Ireland)|Dublin]] in Ireland. Only the bishop of the senior primatial see of each of these two churches participates in the meetings.

The archbishop of Canterbury, who is considered ''[[primus inter pares]]'' of all the participants, convokes the meetings and issues the invitations.<ref name=AC/>

Primates and archbishops are styled "The Most Reverend". All other bishops are styled "The Right Reverend",<ref name=AC/> with the exception of the [[Diocese of Meath and Kildare|Bishop of Meath and Kildare]] in the Church of Ireland.

==Eastern Orthodox equivalent==
Historically, the primatial title in [[Western Christianity]] corresponded to the title and office of supra-metropolitan [[ecclesiastical exarch|exarch]] in [[Eastern Christianity]]. Such exarchs, or primates, were archbishops of [[Ephesus]] (for the [[Diocese of Asia]]), [[Heraclea Lyncestis|Heraclea]] (for the [[Diocese of Thrace]]) and [[Caesarea in Cappadocia|Caesarea]] (for the [[Diocese of Pontus]]).{{sfn|Meyendorff|1989|p=56, 58}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Meyendorff|first=John|author-link=John Meyendorff|year=1989|title=Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450-680 A.D.|series=The Church in history|volume=2|location=Crestwood, NY|publisher=St. Vladimir's Seminary Press|isbn=9780881410563|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6J_YAAAAMAAJ}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{EB1911 poster|Primate}}
{{Wiktionary pipe|primate#Etymology 2|primate}}
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12423b.htm Catholic Encyclopaedia (also other articles)]
* [http://www.Catholic-Hierarchy.org Catholic Hierarchy]
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/hierarchy/index.htm GCatholic.org]
{{Catholicism}}
{{Patriarchates in Christianity}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Primate (Bishop)}}
[[Category:Primates (bishops)| ]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]
[[Category:Ecclesiastical titles]]