dioceses

A diocese is a local district of the Christian church that is governed by a bishop. It comprises a defined geographic territory containing parishes, missions, and other church institutions, and it serves as the primary unit for pastoral care and governance within that area. The bishop’s principal church is the cathedral, which houses the bishop’s official seat, or cathedra.

In most traditions, a diocese is part of a larger church structure. Several dioceses may form an ecclesiastical province led by a metropolitan archbishop or equivalent figure, with the other dioceses called suffragan dioceses. The diocese operates under canonical law or church law, and the bishop has ordinary jurisdiction over liturgical, disciplinary, and administrative matters within the territory. A diocesan curia or chancery supports the bishop with offices on matters such as finances, education, and vocations.

A diocese is typically made up of parishes served by priests and deacons, along with other ministries and organizations. Its responsibilities include the sacraments, catechesis, liturgical life, evangelization, and social services. Dioceses may also oversee schools, hospitals, charities, and diocesan media or communications offices, partnering with lay councils and religious orders.

Historically, dioceses originated from administrative divisions of the late Roman Empire and were adopted by Christian communities to organize ecclesial life across geographic areas. While the term and structure are most associated with the Catholic Church, similar diocesan or eparchial structures exist in the Eastern Orthodox Churches and many Anglican and some Protestant traditions. Across these contexts, the diocese represents the organized local church under the leadership of a bishop within a defined territory.