Who may administer Confirmation?

Who may administer Confirmation?

• A. Bishop or delegated priest
• B. Deacon
• C. Lay catechist
• D. The pope

Answer: (A)

Confirmation is administered by the bishop, who holds the fullness of the sacrament and oversees apostolic succession. In many situations the bishop can delegate that authority to a priest, allowing him to confer Confirmation on candidates (as often happens in RCIA or when pastoral circumstances require). Deacons do not ordinarily confer Confirmation, and lay catechists do not have authority to administer sacraments. The pope is not the regular minister for local confirmations. So, the best answer is that Confirmation may be administered by the bishop or by a priest who has been delegated that faculty by the bishop.

Confirmation is administered by the bishop, who holds the fullness of the sacrament and oversees apostolic succession. In many situations the bishop can delegate that authority to a priest, allowing him to confer Confirmation on candidates (as often happens in RCIA or when pastoral circumstances require). Deacons do not ordinarily confer Confirmation, and lay catechists do not have authority to administer sacraments. The pope is not the regular minister for local confirmations. So, the best answer is that Confirmation may be administered by the bishop or by a priest who has been delegated that faculty by the bishop.