prelature

Prelature is a canonical category in the Catholic Church describing a jurisdiction headed by a prelate. The term, from Latin prelatura, refers to the office or territory under such jurisdiction. In canon law, a prelature may be territorial or personal.

Personal prelature: This structure governs a specified group of the faithful regardless of geography. The prelate has ordinary governance over members wherever they live, subject to the pope. The best-known example is the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei, established by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Members retain their diocesan affiliations; governance emphasizes spiritual formation, education, and apostolate within the prelature.

Territorial prelature: This is a geographic jurisdiction that is not a diocese. It covers a defined territory and the prelate exercises quasi-episcopal authority over Catholics there, under the broader discipline of the Holy See. Territorial prelatures exist in regions where a diocesan structure has not been established or where pastoral needs require a special arrangement. The prelature is a particular church within the Catholic Church, preserving a degree of local governance while remaining within the universal church.

Suppression or modification of prelatures occurs by papal decree, and a territorial prelature can be elevated to a diocese or merged with neighboring structures as circumstances change. Overall, prelatures reflect the Church’s flexibility in organizing pastoral care to address diverse circumstances.