The term “vacant see” typically refers to a situation in the Catholic Church where a diocese or archdiocese does not have a bishop or archbishop appointed to oversee it. This can occur when a bishop resigns, passes away, or is transferred to another diocese, leaving the position vacant until a new bishop is appointed by the Pope. During this period, the diocese is said to be in a state of “sede vacante,” which is Latin for “vacant seat.” During a sede vacante, the governance of the diocese may be handled by an administrator or an auxiliary bishop until a new bishop is appointed.
What is Vacant See?
