Questions about the "ladder"

[Priest_In_Time]

Hello, my first real post on the forums (How exciting! ). I am joining the priesthood. It is clear and evident to me in many ways that, that is what GOD wants for me. My dream though is to be more than a priest. I am willing to do anything in the world if it’s what it takes. I want to know. There are Five Steps on the “Religious ladder” (Please correct me if I forget one). Priest, Bishop, Arch-Bishop, Cardinal, Pope. What do each of these levels require? I am a sixteen-year-old who doesn’t want to waste any time. I want to give back to the world . At the same time, I am humble. Just curious.

Arch-Bishops are named by the pope himself, it is to my understanding, usually to get to that, it helps to attend a college in Italy. (Fact or Fiction?).

If it is fact, would it be more beneficial to attend a seminary in Italy?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

There are only three parts to Holy Orders.

Diaconate, priesthood, and episcopacy.

These are what one is ordained into.

Deacon, priest, and bishop. The fullness of the priesthood is found in the bishop.

Archbishop is just a bishop of an archdiocese.

A cardinal is not a matter of ordination but appointment and really has no rank within Holy Orders.

All bishops with in the Latin Church are appointed by the pope.

 

[Priest_In_Time]

Oh so, to be a bishop, it is decided in the Seminary when you train into the episcopacy? Or do you start as a priest always and be ordained a bishop?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Oh so, to be a bishop, it is decided in the Seminary when you train into the episcopacy? Or do you start as a priest always and be ordained a bishop?

Every priest starts out as a deacon. They are then ordained to the priesthood after about a year.

If they are chosen to be a bishop at some later date then they are ordained to the episcopacy.

 

[Priest_In_Time]

Oh. Ok thanks! =). That makes more sense to me.

 

[dixibehr]

A cardinal is not a matter of ordination but appointment and really has no rank within Holy Orders.<<

A layman can theoretically be named Cardinal.

The late Avery Dulles was a cardinal, but also a priest and not a bishop.