Vicar General

The similarly titled vicar episcopal shares in the bishop's ordinary power over a particular section of a diocese or over certain matters, such as affairs of Religious Order s. These too must either be priests, auxiliary bishops, or coadjutor bishops. The equivalent officer in the Eastern Rite churches is called the '''syncellus'''. This office should not be confused with the Vicar Forane or "dean", as those Vicar s do not have ordinary power.

Both vicars general and vicars episcopal are Prelate s. Unless they are Ordained bishops, their term of office is for a fixed duration. They lose their office '' Sede Vacante '' unless they have been ordained bishops.

The appointment of a vicar general is a useful tool for a diocesan bishop who has additional functions attached to his episcopate. The most notable example is what occurs in the diocese of also serves the same role for the Suburbicarian Diocese of Ostia , the traditional See of the Dean Of The College Of Cardinals , since it was merged with the diocese of Rome. The Vicar General of Rome, who is normally a Cardinal , is one of the few church officials in Rome to remain in office ''sede vacante''.Article 13, ''Ibid'' The current Vicar General of Rome is Camillo Cardinal Ruini .

Vicars-General retain important administrative and judicial functions in the Church Of England .

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Vicar General