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    5. .catholic

    Search For .catholic Domain

    Type
    Generic top-level domain
    Registry
    PCCS
    Operator
    Pontificium Consilium de Comunicationibus Socialibus (PCCS) (Pontifical Council for Social Communication)
    Launched
    Registration term
    1–10 years
    DNSSEC
    Supported
    IDN
    Not supported

    About .catholic domain

    .catholic is a proposed gTLD (generic top-level domain) that was applied for in ICANN's New gTLD Program. The applicant is the Pontificium Consilium de Comunicationibus Socialibus (PCCS), a department of the Holy See. The application outlines a tightly controlled, single-registrant model for this domain extension. It is one of four related applications, which include three IDN versions in different scripts.

    Who can register .catholic domain

    Registration eligibility is strictly restricted. The sole registrant for the .catholic TLD would be the PCCS itself. The PCCS may, at its sole discretion, grant the use of a domain name to formally recognized affiliates of the Catholic Church. These affiliates include recognized dioceses, religious orders, and Church-affiliated institutions as listed in official directories like the Annuario Pontificio. The general public cannot register .catholic domains.

    How to register .catholic domain

    As a proposed, restricted gTLD, .catholic domains are not available for commercial registration through standard registrars. Domain allocation would be managed entirely by the applicant, the PCCS. The PCCS would maintain an internal process to review and grant use of domain names to its pre-approved list of affiliates. There is no public registration or checkout system envisioned for this TLD.

    Typical uses of .catholic domain

    If delegated, the .catholic TLD would be used exclusively by the Holy See and its formally recognized affiliates to establish a verified and authoritative online presence. It would serve as a dedicated namespace for institutions such as dioceses, religious orders, parishes, schools, and charities that are part of the Catholic Church. This allows these entities to clearly signal their official affiliation and provides a trusted space for Church-related communication and services, distinguishing them from other organizations that may use the term.

    Tips for registering .catholic domain

    • Domain names would not be sold; they would be allocated by the PCCS to eligible entities.
    • There is no public information on registration terms, renewal pricing, or WHOIS privacy, as these would be internal policies set by the registry operator.
    • The registry's policies would govern all aspects of domain use, including content requirements and the revocation of domain rights.
    • Dispute resolution would likely follow internal Church procedures rather than standard ICANN policies like UDRP.

    Frequently asked questions about .catholic domain

    Who operates .catholic domain?The registry for .catholic domains is PCCS, administered by Pontificium Consilium de Comunicationibus Socialibus (PCCS) (Pontifical Council for Social Communication).
    Who can register a .catholic domain?

    Registration is not open to the public. The PCCS, the applicant, would be the sole entity with the right to register domains. It may grant usage rights to formally recognized affiliates of the Catholic Church, such as dioceses and religious orders, based on an official directory. There is no process for individuals or organizations outside this structure to obtain a .catholic domain.

    Can I transfer a .catholic domain between registrars?

    As the TLD is designed for a single-registrant model with granted usage rights, standard inter-registrar transfers would not apply. Any transfer of domain usage between affiliates would be an internal administrative process managed by the PCCS registry. Domain names would not be owned by the using entity in a traditional sense, so they could not be transferred to a different registrar.

    What happens if an affiliate granted a domain name leaves the Church or is no longer recognized?

    The registry's policies would govern such situations. It is highly likely that the PCCS would reserve the right to revoke the usage rights to any .catholic domain if the affiliated entity is no longer formally recognized by the Holy See. The domain would presumably revert to the registry's control for potential reassignment.

    How would trademark disputes be handled for the .catholic TLD?

    Given the restricted nature of the TLD, standard ICANN trademark protection mechanisms like the Sunrise Period or Trademark Claims Service might not be implemented. Disputes would most likely be handled through the registry's internal policies and procedures, as the registry controls all allocations and has a pre-defined list of eligible entities.

    Are there other versions of the .catholic TLD?

    Yes, the same applicant applied for three Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) versions of this TLD: .天主教 (in Chinese), .католик (in Russian), and .كاثوليك (in Arabic). These would operate under the same restricted, single-registrant model for use within those respective language communities.