Editing Holy See (section)

== Terminology ==
[[File:Roma-san giovanni03.jpg|thumb|The papal throne ([[cathedra]]), in the apse of [[Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran]], symbolises the Holy See.]]

The word "see" comes from the Latin word {{lang|la|sedes}}, meaning 'seat', which refers to the [[Bishop|episcopal]] throne ([[cathedra]]). The term "[[Apostolic see|Apostolic See]]" can refer to any see founded by one of the Twelve Apostles. When used with the definite article, it is used in the Catholic Church to refer specifically to the see of the Bishop of Rome, whom that Church sees as the successor of Saint Peter.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm|encyclopedia=Catholic Encyclopedia |title=St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles|publisher=newadvent.org|access-date=5 March 2023|archive-date=15 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915021152/http://newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> While [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Vatican City is perhaps the church most associated with the papacy, the actual cathedral of the Holy See is the [[Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran]] in Rome.{{NoteTag|Although Saint John Lateran is legally within Rome, it is one of the properties of the Holy See granted [[extraterritorial privileges]].}}

In the Roman Catholic Church, only the see of the Pope bears the right to be addressed symbolically as "holy".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Direzione dell'Annuario Pontificio presso la Segreteria di Stato |title=Annuario Pontificio |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vatican |year=2012 |isbn=978-88-209-8522-6 |location=Stato Città del Vaticano |pages=11–1019 (cf. full list of the Catholic sees) |language=Italian}}</ref> There was one exception to this rule, represented by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz|Bishopric of Mainz]]. During the [[Holy Roman Empire]], the former [[Archbishopric of Mainz]], which was also of [[prince-elector|electoral]] and [[primate (bishop)|primatial]] rank, had the privilege to bear the title of "the Holy See of Mainz" (Latin: {{lang|la|Sancta Sedes Moguntina}}).<ref name="Kersting">{{cite book |last=Kersting |first=Hans |title=Mainz – tours on foot |year=2003 |publisher=Bayerische Verlagsanstalt |isbn=978-3-89889-078-6 |volume=4}}</ref>