ordinarys

Ordinaries is a term used in ecclesiastical law to describe persons who exercise ordinary jurisdiction by virtue of office, rather than by delegation or extraordinary mandate. The word derives from Latin ordinarius, meaning regular or standard.

In the Roman Catholic Church, ordinaries include territorial ordinaries—such as diocesan bishops and archbishops—who have jurisdiction over a defined geographic area (a diocese or archdiocese). The category also covers non-territorial ordinaries, whose authority arises from their office rather than a specific territory, such as certain apostolic vicars, prefects, or other prelates with ordinary power. An apostolic administrator temporarily vested with ordinary powers during a vacancy or special circumstance may also be described as having ordinary authority in a limited context. The key feature is that their jurisdiction flows from law and office, not from a delegated commission.

In the Anglican Communion and some other historic Christian churches, the term the Ordinary commonly refers to the diocesan bishop—the chief pastor and governor of a diocese who possesses ordinary jurisdiction. Archbishops and metropolitans may also be considered ordinaries within their respective provinces.

Ordinaries are distinct from officials who act by delegation or by non-ordinary authority associated with religious orders, such as abbots who govern their monasteries rather than a diocese, unless they hold ordinary jurisdiction by the accord of higher authority. Historically, ordinaries have played central administrative and disciplinary roles, issuing decrees, overseeing clerical governance, and guiding the faithful within their jurisdictions. See also canon law, diocese, bishop.