Concatedral

A concatedral, or co-cathedral, is a church that shares the status of cathedral within a diocese alongside another church. It contains a bishop’s chair (cathedra) and serves as an episcopal seat, though the diocese maintains more than one church with this ceremonial and liturgical function.

The designation usually arises for historical, administrative, or geographic reasons. It may occur when two former dioceses were merged, when the see was relocated but the former cathedral remains in use, or when the diocesan leadership decides to recognize multiple centers of worship and governance. The result is that more than one church bears the title of cathedral and hosts major diocesan ceremonies.

In practice, a concatedral participates in the ordinary life of the diocese and can host bishops’ rites, ordinations, and other significant liturgical events. There is typically a primary cathedral with primacy, while the concatedral functions as a legitimate episcopal seat with its own distinct role and audience. The relationship between the two sites is defined by the diocesan statutes and, in some cases, by papal or ecclesiastical decree.

A pro-cathedral, by contrast, is a church temporarily designated to function as a cathedral, often during reconstruction or relocation, and is not considered a permanent secondary see. Concatedral arrangements are permanent and reflect historical developments within a diocese. Examples of concathedrals occur in various countries, particularly in regions with historical or administrative diocesan mergers.