Primate (bishop)

Primate (bishop)

For other uses, see Primate (disambiguation)

Primate (pronounced PRIME-ayt) is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority (title of authority) or ceremonial precedence (title of honour).

In many countries, the Primate is based in a city other than the capital. This often reflects historical circumstances, with the Primate located in what had been the capital when the country first became Christianized, and with such geographical disparity helping to preserve the Church's autonomy from the secular government.