titulars

Titulars are people who hold a title without implying current control or jurisdiction over the corresponding territory or office. The term can apply to both individuals and roles, depending on context. Etymologically, titular comes from the Latin titulus, meaning a label or title.

In political and ceremonial contexts, a titular head or titular ruler is a person who occupies a named position, such as monarch, president, or dignitary, but whose actual governing powers are limited or largely symbolic. The distinction between titular and de facto authority is central in constitutional systems, where the title denotes status or heritage rather than day-to-day governance.

In the Catholic and some other Christian churches, the term has a specific technical meaning. A titular bishop is a bishop who holds the episcopal rank but is assigned to a titular see—an ancient or defunct diocese that no longer functions as an administrative territory. This arrangement allows bishops to serve in roles such as auxiliaries, diplomats, or officials in the Roman Curia while maintaining a continuous line of episcopal succession. Titular sees traditionally date from historical changes in church administration or population shifts, and the practice remains common in several churches today.

The concept of titularity can also appear in other organizations or offices where an individual carries a formal title without corresponding formal control or geographic authority. In all uses, the term emphasizes a distinction between the possession of a title and the exercise of actual powers tied to that title. Common related terms include ceremonial, nominal, and figurehead.