Godparent (sponsor, witness)

A godparent is a person designated at baptism (and in some traditions at confirmation) to support the baptized in their Christian life. Canonical requirements vary sharply across traditions: Catholic godparents must be 16 or older, confirmed Catholics in regular sacramental life (CIC c. 874); Orthodox godparents must be Orthodox in good standing; Anglican and Mainline Protestant sponsors must be baptized Christians but are typically not required to be of the same denomination. In Catholic practice a baptized non-Catholic Christian may serve only as a Christian witness alongside the Catholic godparent (CIC c. 874 §2). Evangelical and Baptist traditions do not have a formal godparent role at infant baptism, since they do not practice infant baptism; some include an informal "covenant friend" role at a child dedication.