diocèse

A diocese is a territorial division of certain Christian churches governed by a bishop. It comprises multiple local communities, or parishes, and forms part of a larger regional church structure. The term derives from the Latin dioecesis, originally used to describe an administrative district in the late Roman Empire and later adopted for ecclesiastical organization.

In the Catholic Church, the diocese is the basic unit of governance. The bishop exercises pastoral and administrative authority, ordains priests, and oversees sacraments, catechesis, and teaching. The cathedral church houses the bishop’s cathedra, a symbol of his teaching and governing authority. The bishop is assisted by the diocesan curia, which may include a vicar general and a chancellor; auxiliary bishops may help in larger dioceses. The diocese is subdivided into parishes, overseen by parish priests and often organized into deaneries or vicariates.

Structure and hierarchy typically include an ecclesiastical province, headed by a metropolitan archbishop. The archdiocese forms the metropolitan see, while the other dioceses in the province are suffragan sees. The archbishop has supervisory roles over the province, but daily governance of each diocese remains the responsibility of its bishop.

Variations exist across Christian traditions. In the Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches, the equivalent unit is called an eparchy. In Anglican and many Protestant communions, the term diocese is also used, with a similar structure of bishops and parishes, though governance can differ in detail and in relation to national churches.

Overall, the diocese serves as the primary local framework for church governance, sacramental life, pastoral care, and organizational administration.