Reserved for recognized dioceses, orders, and institutionsGrant at the sole discretion of the PCCSNot available for general public registration

.catholic Domain

.catholic is the gTLD of the Catholic Church, delegated in 2016 and managed by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (PCCS) of the Vatican. Reserved for dioceses, religious orders, and institutions formally recognized by the Holy See.

2016 Year created
gTLD Extension type (IANA)
On request Registration price / year
Yes Registration restrictions

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About the .CATHOLIC domain

What is the .CATHOLIC domain?

The .catholic is the generic top-level domain (gTLD) representing the Catholic Church online, delegated to the root zone on November 16, 2016, and managed by the Pontificium Consilium de Comunicationibus Socialibus (PCCS), the Holy See's Pontifical Council for Social Communications, based in Vatican City.

Registration is reserved exclusively for entities that are a legitimate part of the Catholic Church's structure: dioceses, parishes, religious orders, and institutions directly associated with the Catholic hierarchy, whose eligibility is determined according to the list of affiliates formally recognized by the Holy See, based primarily on the Annuario Pontificio, the Church's official yearbook. The grant of each domain is at the sole discretion of the PCCS, which reviews and approves each application individually to ensure domain use aligns with the teachings, mission, and values of the Catholic Church. As a result, .catholic is not available for general public registration, not even for independent Catholic organizations lacking formal recognition from the Holy See.
Registration restrictions

Registration is reserved for dioceses, religious orders, and institutions officially recognized as part of the Catholic Church hierarchy, according to the list of affiliates recognized by the Holy See (based primarily on the Annuario Pontificio). The grant is at the sole discretion of the PCCS, which reviews and approves each application individually, requiring that domain use comply with the teachings, mission, and values of the Catholic Church. It is not available for general public registration. Contact our team if you need guidance on alternatives for your project.

Extension .CATHOLIC
IANA type gTLD
Created in 2016
Registry Pontificium Consilium de Comunicationibus Socialibus (PCCS — Pontifical Council for Social Communications), Vatican City
Restrictions Yes
Registration On request
Renewal On request

Uses of .CATHOLIC

Who is the .CATHOLIC domain for?

These are the most common situations where .CATHOLIC is the ideal extension.

Dioceses and parishes recognized by the Holy See

The most direct use: entities listed in the Annuario Pontificio.

Formally recognized religious orders

Congregations and institutes of consecrated life with official recognition.

Institutions directly associated with the Catholic hierarchy

Bodies that are part of the Church's official structure.

Excluded: Catholic organizations without formal recognition

Even Catholic-inspired entities cannot register without the PCCS's express approval.

.CATHOLIC vs other extensions

Which extension suits you best?

Each extension has its own profile. Here we compare .CATHOLIC with the most common alternatives to help you choose.

Extension Best for Restrictions Registration price
.catholic This page Entities recognized in the Annuario Pontificio Express approval by the PCCS, case by case Not available to the public
.church Churches and religious communities in general Varies by registry Inquire

Registration process

How to register your .CATHOLIC domain at miHosting

01

Check availability

Type the name you want in the search bar. We show you in seconds whether it's available or if you need to look for alternatives.

02

Complete registration

Fill in the registrant details and choose whether to add hosting. The entire process takes less than 5 minutes.

03

Your domain is live

Within minutes your .CATHOLIC domain is active and visible from anywhere in the world. DNS propagates in under 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions about the .CATHOLIC domain

Can my parish register a .catholic directly?

Only if it is listed among entities recognized by the Holy See, primarily through the Annuario Pontificio.

Can independent Catholic organizations register this extension?

No, unless they have formal recognition and the PCCS's express approval.

What use must a .catholic site have?

It must align with the teachings, mission, and values of the Catholic Church.

Who manages the .catholic domain?

The Pontificium Consilium de Comunicationibus Socialibus (PCCS), in Vatican City. It was delegated to the root zone on November 16, 2016.

Is there any commercial way to get a .catholic domain?

No, the grant depends exclusively on the PCCS's discretionary approval, with no open sales process.

What alternative does miHosting recommend?

A generic extension like .org, suitable for religious or institutional projects. Contact our team to weigh your options.

Register your .CATHOLIC today

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The .catholic domain is the gTLD of the Catholic Church, managed by the Vatican's PCCS. Reserved for entities formally recognized by the Holy See, not available to the general public. Contact our team about alternatives such as our professional hosting.