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Catholic laity are the ordinary members of the Catholic Church who are neither clergy nor recipients of Holy Orders or vowed to life in a religious order or congregation. Their mission, according to the Second Vatican Council, is to "sanctify the world".
The laity forms the majority of the estimated over one billion Catholics in the world.[1]
The Catholic Church is served by the universal jurisdiction of the Holy See, headed by the Pope, and administered by the Roman Curia, while locally served by diocesan bishops. The Pope and the bishops in full communion with him are known collectively as the Catholic hierarchy, and are responsible for the supervision, management, and pastoral care of all members the Catholic Church, including clergy, religious, and laity.[2] But since the Second Vatican Council of Bishops (1962–1965) the laity have emerged as a greater source of leadership in various aspects of the church's life; and its teaching on their equal call to holiness has led to greater recognition of their role in the church.[3]
- ^ "Number of Catholics on the Rise". Zenit News Agency. 27 April 2010. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church", catholic-hierarchy.org, June 2012.
- ^ Cahoy, William John (2012). In the Name of the Church: Vocation and Authorization of Lay Ecclesial Ministry. Liturgical Press. pp. 40–42. ISBN 9780814634233.