Editing Primate (bishop) (section)

===Regular clergy equivalent===
In the modern confederation of the [[Benedictine Order]], all the Black Monks of St. Benedict were united under the presidency of an '''Abbot Primate''' (Leo XIII, ''Summum semper'', 12 July 1893); but the unification, fraternal in its nature, brought no modification to the abbatial dignity, and the various congregations preserved their autonomy intact. The loose structure of the Benedictine Confederation is claimed to have made [[Pope Leo XIII]] exclaim that the Benedictines were ''ordo sine ordine'' ("an order without order"). The powers of the [[Abbot]] Primate are specified, and his position defined, in a decree of the [[Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars]] dated 16 September 1893. The primacy is attached to the global [[Benedictine Confederation]] whose Primate resides at [[Sant'Anselmo]] in [[Rome]]. He takes precedence of all other abbots, is empowered to pronounce on all doubtful matters of discipline, to settle difficulties arising between monasteries, to hold a canonical visitation, if necessary, in any congregation of the order, and to exercise a general supervision for the regular observance of monastic discipline. The Primatial powers are only vested in the Abbot Primate to act by virtue of the proper law of its autonomous Benedictine congregation, which at the present is minimal to none. However, certain branches of the Benedictine Order seem to have lost their original autonomy to some extent.
 
In a similar way the Confederation of [[Canons Regular of St. Augustine]], elects an Abbot Primate as figurehead of the Confederation and indeed the whole Canonical Order. The Abbots and Superiors General of the nine congregations of confederated congregations of [[Canons Regular]] elect a new Abbot Primate for a term of office lasting six years. The Current Abbot Primate is Rt Rev. Fr Jean-Michel Girard, CRB, Abbot General of the Canons Regular of the Grand St Bernard.