PRIMAZIAL SEE
A primatial see is the cathedral church over which a bishop presides, who holds the title of primate over a specific region. As such, the primate takes precedence over other metropolitans, archbishops, and bishops within the territory under his jurisdiction.
In historical sources, the term "primates" is sometimes used generically to refer to ecclesiastical superiors (Mansi, XXI, 121).
### I. Historical Notes
The title of primate in the 4th century was often attributed to the bishop of Carthage, who exercised a true jurisdiction over all of Africa. In fact, the Primate of Carthage convened and presided over general councils in Africa (cf. the Carthaginian Councils held from 407 onward); he reviewed provincial councils in these general councils; he indicated to other bishops the date for the celebration of Easter; and he resolved disputes concerning metropolitans (cf. Hefele-Leclercq, I, pp. 1199-1200). This jurisdiction ceased with the decline of the African Church, and from 1076 onward, no further mention of it is made.
Other primates in the West likely originated from the appointment by the Roman Pontiffs, from the 4th century onward, of certain metropolitans (especially Arles and Thessalonica) as their vicars. The powers originally granted to individuals eventually became attached to the see itself, and in this way, with the implicit or explicit recognition of the Roman Pontiffs, the primatial sees of Arles, Bordeaux, and Lyon (6th century) arose in the Gauls; Canterbury in England (7th century); Armagh in Ireland (8th century); Mainz and Salzburg (8th century) in Germany; Toledo in Spain; Venice for Dalmatia (12th century); Gran (Esztergom) in Hungary; Pisa for Sardinia; and Mechelen in Belgium (16th century). The rights of primates, which were not always uniform, included the consecration of metropolitans or bishops, the visitation of dioceses, the reception of appeals, and so forth. In France, although primatial sees were suppressed by the Concordat of 1801, the title of primate has remained with the archbishop of Lyon. In the East, the corresponding title to that of primate is that of exarch (v.).
### II. Current Canon Law
The Roman Pontiff, who heads the entire Church, is also called the Patriarch of the West and Primate of Italy (cf. Ann. Pont. 1952, p. 27).
According to the current discipline of the Code of Canon Law, the office of primate is merely an honorary prerogative without real jurisdiction (can. 271); the primate has the right of precedence over archbishops, while ranking below patriarchs (can. 271, 208). Even today, the Pope, when sending encyclicals or apostolic letters to the episcopate of the entire Catholic world, uses the formula: *Ad omnes Patriarchas Primates*... The title of primate is not officially used in the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and it is never mentioned in the Annuario Pontificio except in reference to the Roman Pontiff.