List of religious institutes

The list given here includes not only examples of pontifical right institutes but also some that are only of diocesan right.

It includes even some associations formed with a view to becoming religious institutes but not yet canonically erected even on the diocesan level.

The list does not distinguish between institutes that historically would be classified either as "orders" or as "congregations".

Institutes are listed alphabetically by their common names, not their official ones.

For example, the Jesuits, officially called the Society of Jesus, would be listed under 'J' rather than under 'S.'