Who were bishops in the context of the Roman Catholic Church?

Bishops in the context of the Roman Catholic Church were regional religious leaders who held significant authority within the church hierarchy and were responsible for overseeing the clergy and the faithful in their designated territories. They played a crucial role in maintaining church doctrine, administering sacraments, and exercising governance over local churches. Their allegiance to the Pope established a connection between local congregations and the broader authority of the church, facilitating the church's influence across Europe.

In contrast, regional leaders reporting directly to monarchs would not accurately reflect the ecclesiastical hierarchy that bishops operated within, as their authority was derived primarily from the church rather than secular rulers. Local priests are typically seen at the parish level, managing individual churches and serving local congregations, but they do not possess the same level of oversight or organizational responsibility as bishops. The notion of bishops as missionaries spreading non-Christian beliefs is fundamentally inaccurate since their role was to promote and uphold Christian teachings rather than spread alternative beliefs.