Among the patriarchates in the West, the Pope, as Bishop of Rome is the only true, independent patriarch. Of the "minor patriarchates" that Rome has always claimed were subsidiary to the Holy See, the oldest survivor in modern times is the Patriarch of Venice a title permitted to the bishop of Venice since 1451. Venice is one of the three so called smaller patriarchates (together with Lisbon and Goa). The only advantage of this purely formal title is the bishop's place of honor in papal in processions. Eastern patriarchs claim independence of any other patriarch as such: see Eastern Orthodox Church.

The patriarchal seat was moved from Aquileia in 1451. for the earlier history of this title, see Patriarch of Aquileia.