A sacerdotal state is a state whose head is also an ecclesiastical leader designated by a religious body. An example of this kind of state is the Vatican City - its heads of state, the popes of the Catholic Church, have governed papal lands distinct from secular authority since the eighth century CE.[1][dead link][2]Andorra operates under a semi-sacerdotal system, as one of its co-heads of state is the bishop of Urgell, while the other is the president of France. However unlike the Vatican, the co-princes of Andorra are not closely involved in the government.
Andorra operates under a semi-sacerdotal system, as one of its co-heads of state is the bishop of Urgell, while the other is the president of France, however the co-princes of Andorra are not closely involved in the government.[3] The Bishop of Urgell is one of the two Catholic religious figures that also lead a country, the other being the Pope of Vatican City. Like other bishops, the Bishop of Urgell is also appointed by the Pope thus the pope appoints a fellow head of state.
Iran
The Supreme Leader of Iran is elected for life by a body consisting of senior TwelverShia Muslim clerics. The supreme leader, known as an ayatollah, is the spiritual leader of the country as well as a powerful political figure with wide-ranging powers and his own military force.[4]
Vatican City's head of state since the eighth century is the pope of the Catholic Church.[6][7] The pope is one of the two Catholic religious figures that also lead a country, the other being the Bishop of Urgell of Andorra.
Former Sacerdotal States
The following are states that were sacerdotal or partly sacerdotal:
In the past, Tibet was ruled by the Dalai Lamas, political leaders who were symbolic religious leaders but had no formal position in religious organisations, so not being sacerdotal.[9]
^"In Biden's visit with the pope, a page from Reagan's playbook?". www.theconversation.com. 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2022-05-08. The Holy See has been an independent city-state since 1929, but in reality, the pope has been a head of state at least since the eighth century.