cocathedral

A cocathedral, also written as co-cathedral, is a cathedral church that shares the episcopal see of a diocese with another cathedral. The term comes from the Latin cathedra (bishop’s throne) and the prefix co-, meaning together. In practice, a diocese designated as having two cathedrals presents both churches as seats of the bishop, though the distribution of liturgical duties and ceremonial prominence can vary.

Cocathedrals typically arise in several situations. A common cause is the merger of two formerly separate dioceses, after which both former cathedrals retain a ceremonial role in the new, larger diocese. Another scenario involves a diocese with multiple major urban centers, where more than one historic church is retained as a cathedral to serve different regions or communities. In these arrangements, the bishop’s seat may be physically present at both cathedrals, and major rites or episcopal functions may be celebrated in either location.

Canonical and liturgical status for cocathedrals is established within a diocese by appropriate ecclesiastical authority, often the Holy See or the diocesan governing body in the Catholic Church, and is recognized by the diocesan cathedral chapter. A cocathedral is distinct from a pro-cathedral, which is a parish church temporarily designated to serve as a cathedral, rather than a permanent arrangement.

In use today, cocathedrals are most commonly found in historically merged or reorganized dioceses and reflect the historical and regional diversity of a diocese’s geography.