What is an Administrator?
There are two common types of administrative leaders for a Roman Catholic diocese:
- Apostolic administrator: An apostolic administrator is appointed by the Vatican when the diocesan bishop’s office becomes vacant.
- Diocesan administrator: A diocesan administrator is a priest or bishop elected by the diocese’s college of consultors.
In both cases, the administrator temporarily leads the diocese (the local church area normally headed by a bishop) when the bishop's position becomes vacant, such as due to death or resignation. Specifically, he:
- Steps in to keep things running smoothly until a new bishop is appointed.
- Has most of a bishop's authority and duties to govern, teach, and sanctify the diocese, but can't make major changes reserved for bishops (e.g., no alienating church property without permission).
His power starts immediately upon accepting the role—no Vatican approval needed beyond notification. This ensures stable leadership during transitions, with oversight from higher church authorities like the metropolitan archbishop if issues arise.
Source: Code of Canon Law
