Who is above the Pope?
Cardinal. Cardinals are leading bishops and members of the College of Cardinals. Their biggest duty is participating in the Papal Conclave, that is, voting for the new Pope. Most have additional duties including missions within the Roman Curia, governmental body of the Holy See.
Is a cardinal higher than an archbishop?
In the Catholic Church, archbishops and bishops rank below cardinals. Becoming a bishop is the third and fullest level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. … A bishop oversees a diocese, which is a collection of local parishes; and an archbishop administers an archdiocese, which is just a really large diocese.
Why does the church have a hierarchy?
Having a hierarchy helps the Church lead the faithful at local and increasingly higher levels. The parish is at the most basic level, followed by the diocese, the archdiocese, and then the Church.
Who runs a church?
Bishops are the primary clergy, administering all sacraments and governing the church. Priests administer the sacraments and lead local congregations; they cannot ordain other clergy, however, nor consecrate buildings.
Do Catholic priests get paid?
The average salary for members of the clergy including priests is $53,290 per year. The top 10% earn more than $85,040 per year and the bottom 10% earn $26,160 or less per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.