Archbishopric

An archbishopric is the jurisdiction or office of an archbishop in certain Christian churches. It generally corresponds to an archdiocese, a diocese of greater size, importance, or historical standing, headed by an archbishop. The archbishop is typically a bishop who holds a higher rank and, in many traditions, serves as the metropolitan of an ecclesiastical province.

In organizational terms, an archdiocese may function as the principal diocese within a province that contains several suffragan dioceses. The archbishop who serves as metropolitan often has limited, canonical authority over the other dioceses in his province, primarily of a supervisory and coordinating nature, while each suffragan diocese retains substantial self-government. Not all archbishops are metropolitan; some lead archdioceses without metropolitan duties, and some churches use different titles or structures where the term archbishopric is less central.

Appointment and duties vary by church tradition. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, archbishops are usually bishops appointed by the pope and may participate in broader governance of the church, preside over liturgical and ceremonial functions, and oversee diocesan administration. Canon law sets limits and responsibilities, including considerations for retirement. In other traditions, such as some Anglian and Eastern Orthodox contexts, archbishops may have different patterns of authority and ceremonial roles but share the feature of presiding over an important or historic see.

Historically, archbishoprics emerged in late antiquity and the medieval period as urban centers grew and ecclesiastical governance became more complex. Today, archbishoprics remain a key element of hierarchical structure in several Christian traditions, reflecting both historical development and contemporary administration.