abbot, regular
A prelate canonically elected and confirmed and exercising the duties of his office. There are three grades:
those who preside only over members of their monasteries , and are under the jurisdiction of the bishop (non-exempt);
those who are immediately subject to the Holy See, with jurisdiction beyond the limit of their abbeys over the people, clergy and laity, of a territory forming an integral part of a bishop ‘s diocese (exempt);
those whose jurisdiction extends over a territory which is no part of any diocese (abbey nullius ).
These last, called abbots nullius, have quasi-episcopal jurisdiction and the right to assist at ecumenical councils, with decisive vote. All regular abbots elected for life are obliged, after their ecclesiastical confirmation, to receive the blessing , at which they are invested with the miter, crosier, pectoral cross, ring, and other insignia of their office.