Apostolic vicariate
Encyclopedia
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church
established in missionary
regions and countries that do not have a diocese
. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more. The hope is that the region will generate sufficient numbers of Catholics for the Church to create a diocese.
An apostolic vicariate is led by a vicar apostolic who is usually a titular bishop
. While such a territory can be classed as a particular church
, according to canon 371.1 of the Latin Code of Canon Law
, a vicar apostolic's jurisdiction is an exercise of the jurisdiction of the Pope
— the territory thus comes directly under the pope as "universal bishop," and the pope exercises this authority through a “vicar” or delegate. This is unlike the jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop, whose jurisdiction derives directly from his office.
Like any ecclesiastical jurisdiction, an apostolic vicariate may be administered by the bishop of a neighbouring diocese, or by a priest appointed transitionally as an apostolic administrator
. As in a regular diocese, the vicar apostolic may appoint priests as vicar
s exercising limited jurisdiction over the apostolic vicariate.
An apostolic vicariate is to be distinguished from an apostolic prefecture, a similar type of territory that is usually under the leadership of a priest. The latter is not organised enough to be termed an apostolic vicariate. The less developed instance is the mission sui iuris
, under some type of superior. The usual sequence of development is mission, apostolic prefecture, apostolic vicariate, and finally diocese
.
The apostolic vicariate is distinguished from a territorial abbacy (or "abbey nullius") — an area not a diocese but under the direction of the abbot
of a monastery
.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
established in missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
regions and countries that do not have a diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more. The hope is that the region will generate sufficient numbers of Catholics for the Church to create a diocese.
An apostolic vicariate is led by a vicar apostolic who is usually a titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
. While such a territory can be classed as a particular church
Particular Church
In Catholic canon law, a Particular Church is an ecclesial community headed by a bishop or someone recognised as the equivalent of a bishop.There are two kinds of particular Churches:# Local particular Churches ...
, according to canon 371.1 of the Latin Code of Canon Law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
, a vicar apostolic's jurisdiction is an exercise of the jurisdiction of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
— the territory thus comes directly under the pope as "universal bishop," and the pope exercises this authority through a “vicar” or delegate. This is unlike the jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop, whose jurisdiction derives directly from his office.
Like any ecclesiastical jurisdiction, an apostolic vicariate may be administered by the bishop of a neighbouring diocese, or by a priest appointed transitionally as an apostolic administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
. As in a regular diocese, the vicar apostolic may appoint priests as vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
s exercising limited jurisdiction over the apostolic vicariate.
An apostolic vicariate is to be distinguished from an apostolic prefecture, a similar type of territory that is usually under the leadership of a priest. The latter is not organised enough to be termed an apostolic vicariate. The less developed instance is the mission sui iuris
Mission sui iuris
A mission sui iuris, or in Latin missio sui iuris, also known as an independent mission, is a rare type of Roman Catholic missionary pseudo-diocesan jurisdiction in an area with very few Catholics, often desolate or remote....
, under some type of superior. The usual sequence of development is mission, apostolic prefecture, apostolic vicariate, and finally diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
.
The apostolic vicariate is distinguished from a territorial abbacy (or "abbey nullius") — an area not a diocese but under the direction of the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
.
Africa
- Vicariate Apostolic of Alexandria of Egypt
- Vicariate Apostolic of Awasa, Ethiopia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Benghazi, Libya
- Vicariate Apostolic of Bomadi, Nigeria
- Vicariate Apostolic of the CongoVicariate Apostolic of the CongoThe Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of the Congo, the administrative region covering Catholic mission activity in the Congo area of Central Africa, was by the end of the nineteenth century already fragmented....
- Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey
- Vicariate Apostolic of Derna, Libya
- Vicariate Apostolic of Donkorkrom, Ghana
- Vicariate Apostolic of French Congo, or Lower Congo
- Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown, Botswana
- Vicariate Apostolic of Harar, Ethiopia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Hosanna, Ethiopia
- Vicariate Apostolic of IngwavumaVicariate Apostolic of IngwavumaThe Apostolic Vicariate of Ingwavuma is a Roman Catholic apostolic Vicariate located in the city of Ingwavuma in South Africa.-History:* November 12, 1962: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Ingwavuma from the Diocese of Eshowe and Diocese of Manzini...
, South Africa - Vicariate Apostolic of IsioloVicariate Apostolic of IsioloThe Apostolic Vicariate of Isiolo in Kenya was created on December 15, 1995, when it was split off from the Diocese of Meru. It has headquarters in the Isiolo town....
, Ethiopia - Vicariate Apostolic of Kamerun, Cameroon
- Vicariate Apostolic of Kenia, Kenya
- Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in OrangeVicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in OrangeThe portion of South Africa which would form the Vicariate of Kimberley in Orange had earlier become in the division of the Vicariate of Good Hope part of the Eastern District, and later on part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Natal...
, South Africa - Vicariate Apostolic of Kontagora, Nigeria
- Vicariate Apostolic of Meki, Ethiopia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Mongo, ChadChadChad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Nekemte, Ethiopia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Victoria Nyanza
- Vicariate Apostolic of RodriguesVicariate Apostolic of RodriguesThe Apostolic Vicariate of Rodrigues is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located on the island of Rodrigues in Mauritius.-History:* October 31, 2002: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Rodrigues from the Diocese of Port-Louis-Leadership:...
, Mauritius - Vicariate Apostolic of Rundu, Namibia
- Vicariate Apostolic of SaharaVicariate Apostolic of SaharaThe Vicariate Apostolic of Sahara is a former Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction in colonial Algeria and Libya.-History:The Sahara is a vast desert of northern Africa, measuring about 932 miles from north to south and 2484 miles from east to west, and dotted with oases which are centres of...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Senegambia
- Vicariate Apostolic of ShireVicariate Apostolic of ShireThe Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré was an Apostolic vicariate located in Nyasaland Protectorate, Africa. It was formed from the Apostolic Vicariate of Nyassa in 1903. In 1952, the Apostolic Vicariate of Shiré was renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Blantyre...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Soddo, Ethiopia
- Vicariate Apostolic of SudanVicariate Apostolic of SudanThe Vicariate Apostolic of Sudan , or in full Vicariate Apostolic of Sudan or Central-Africa, was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction in North-Eastern Africa, including parts of several colonial states.-History:...
or Central-Africa - Vicariate Apostolic of Tripoli, Libya
- Vicariate Apostolic of UnyanyembeVicariate Apostolic of UnyanyembeThe Vicariate Apostolic of Unyanyembe was an Apostolic vicariate located in German East Africa. It was promoted to the Diocese of Tabora in 1925 and to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tabora in 1953.-Creation and boundaries:...
The Americas
- Vicariate Apostolic of Aguarico, Ecuador
- Vicariate Apostolic of San José del Amazonas
- Vicariate Apostolic of AthabascaVicariate Apostolic of AthabascaThe Vicariate Apostolic of Athabasca is a suffragan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface in Canada.This Vicariate Apostolic was erected in 1862 during the papacy of Pius IX. It is located in the North-West Territories. The first vicar Apostolic was Bishop Henri Faraud. He was...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Aysén, Chile
- Vicariate Apostolic of Beni
- Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields, Nicaragua
- Vicariate Apostolic of Camiri, Bolivia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Caroní, Venezuela
- Vicariate Apostolic of Chaco Paraguayo, Paraguay
- Vicariate Apostolic of Darién, Panama
- Vicariate Apostolic of El Beni, Bolivia
- Vicariate Apostolic of El Petén, Guatemala
- Vicariate Apostolic of Esmeraldas, Ecuador
- Vicariate Apostolic of Galápagos, Ecuador
- Vicariate Apostolic of Goajira
- Vicariate Apostolic of Guapi, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Iles Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
- Vicariate Apostolic of Inírida, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Iquitos, Peru
- Vicariate Apostolic of Izabal, Guatemala
- Vicariate Apostolic of Jaén in Peru/San Francisco Javier
- Vicariate Apostolic of KeewatinVicariate Apostolic of KeewatinThe Vicariate Apostolic of Keewatin was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction in northern Canada which included the northern half of the Province of Saskatchewan, and was bounded on the north by the Arctic regions, on the south by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface, on the east...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Leticia, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Lower California
- Vicariate Apostolic of Machiques, Venezuela
- Vicariate Apostolic of Marysville
- Vicariate Apostolic of MackenzieVicariate Apostolic of MackenzieThe Vicariate Apostolic of Mackenzie was formerly part of the Athabaska-Mackenzie Vicariate and became a separate entity in 1901. It encompassed the Yukon with the remainder of the territory being renamed the Vicariate Apostolic of Athabasca. It was elevated to the episcopal see of Mackenzie-Fort...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Méndez, Ecuador
- Vicariate Apostolic of Mitú, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of MontevideoRoman Catholic Archdiocese of MontevideoThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montevideo is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in Uruguay.Erected as the Apostolic Vicariate of Montevideo in 1830, the vicariate was promoted to the Diocese of Montevideo on July 13, 1878...
, Uruguay - Vicariate Apostolic of Napo, Ecuador
- Vicariate Apostolic of Nuflo de Chávez, Bolivia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Pando, Bolivia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Pilcomayo, Paraguay
- Vicariate Apostolic of Pucallpa, Peru
- Vicariate Apostolic of Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela
- Vicariate Apostolic of Puerto Carreño, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Puerto Gaitán, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Puerto Maldonado, Peru
- Vicariate Apostolic of Puyo, Ecuador
- Vicariate Apostolic of Reyes, Bolivia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Requena, Peru
- Vicariate Apostolic of San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of San José de Amazonas, Peru
- Vicariate Apostolic of San Miguel de Sucumbíos, Ecuador
- Vicariate Apostolic of San Ramon, Peru
- Vicariate Apostolic of San Vicente–Puerto Leguízamo, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Sucumbíos
- Vicariate Apostolic of Tierradentro, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Trinidad, Colombia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Tucupita, Venezuela
- Vicariate Apostolic of Yurimaguas, Peru
- Vicariate Apostolic of Zamora, Ecuador
Asia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Amoy
- Vicariate Apostolic of Anatolia, Turkey
- Vicariate Apostolic of Aleppe, Syria
- Vicariate Apostolic of ArabiaVicariate Apostolic of ArabiaThe Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Arabia is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in the United Arab Emirates. It is a territorial jurisdiction of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church covering the following countries of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding region: Oman, United...
, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates & Yemen - Vicariate Apostolic of Batavia, Indonesia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Beirut, Lebanon
- Vicariate Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Brunei, Brunei
- Vicariate Apostolic of Calapan, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Changanacherry, India
- Vicariate Apostolic of Ernakulam
- Vicariate Apostolic of Jolo, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Kiang-nanVicariate Apostolic of Kiang-nanThe Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of Kiang-nan was a missionary jurisdiction in mainland China, comprising the two imperial provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui, often referred to as Jiangnan .-History:...
, China - Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam
- Vicariate Apostolic of KuwaitVicariate Apostolic of KuwaitThe Vicariate Apostolic of North Arabia is a Catholic vicariate apostolic located in Kuwait. It covers the countries of: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The superior of the vicariate is the Italian Bishop Camillo Ballin MCCJ....
, Kuwait - Vicariate Apostolic of Luang PrabangVicariate Apostolic of Luang PrabangVicariate Apostolic of Luang Prabang is an apostolic vicariate of the Roman Catholic Church in northern Laos. It was established on March 1 1963, when it was split off from the Vicariate Apostolic of Vientiane...
, Laos - Vicariate Apostolic of Madras, India
- Vicariate Apostolic of Nepal, Nepal
- Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Kan-Su, China
- Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Shan-Si, China
- Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Shan-Tung, China
- Vicariate Apostolic of PakséVicariate Apostolic of PakséVicariate Apostolic of Paksé is a major unit of theRoman Catholic Church in Laos. The Vicar Apostolic since 2000 is Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun. It was established in 1967, when it was split off from the Vicariate Apostolic of Savannakhet. Covering an area of 45,000 km² of southern Laos,...
, Laos - Vicariate-Apostolic of Patna, India
- Vicariate Apostolic of Phnom-Penh, Cambodia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Puerto PrincesaApostolic Vicariate of Puerto PrincesaApostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa is an apostolic vicariate in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the Philippines. As an apostolic vicariate in the Catholic Church hierarchy, it operates like a diocese and is headed by a bishop. Its cathedral is the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish in Puerto...
, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam... - Vicariate Apostolic of Quetta, PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
- Vicariate Apostolic of San Jose in Mindoro, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
- Vicariate Apostolic of SavannakhetVicariate Apostolic of SavannakhetVicariate Apostolic of Savannakhet is a subdivision of the Roman Catholic Church in Laos.Covering an area of 48,100 km² of central Laos, the Vicariate is the largest of the apostolic vicariates in Laos. 12,500 of 2.7 million citizen in the area are member of the Catholic Church.The vicariate...
, Laos - Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Shan-Si, China
- Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Shan-Tung, China
- Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Shen-Si, China
- Vicariate Apostolic of Tabuk, Philippines
- Vicariate Apostolic of Taytay, Philippines
- Vicariate Apostolic of Trichur, India
- Vicariate Apostolic of VientianeVicariate Apostolic of VientianeVicariate Apostolic of Vientiane is a subdivision of theRoman Catholic Church in Laos.The vicariate covers the provinces of Houaphan, Xiangkhoang, Vientiane Province, Vientiane Prefecture and most of Bolikhamsai...
, Laos
Europe
- Vicariate Apostolic of Gibraltar
- Vicariate Apostolic of Istanbul, Turkey
- Vicariate Apostolic of Northern GermanyVicariate Apostolic of Northern GermanyThe Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Germany was known for most of its existence as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern Missions , established on 28 April 1667. It was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction of a Vicar Apostolic in predominantly Protestant Northern Europe...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Scotland
- Vicariate Apostolic of Thessaloniki/Θεσσαλονίκης, Greece
Oceania
- Vicariate Apostolic of Central OceaniaVicariate Apostolic of Central OceaniaThe Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction in the Southern Pacific.-History:The whole of Oceania had at first been entrusted by the Propaganda Fide to the Society of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary ; but the territory proving too large, the western...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Western OceaniaVicariate Apostolic of Oriental OceaniaThe Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction for some of the South Pacific islands.-History:The whole of Oceania had at first been entrusted by the Propaganda Fide to the Society of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary ; but the territory proving too large,...
- Vicariate Apostolic of FijiVicariate Apostolic of FijiThe Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction comprising the islands belonging to the Fiji archipelago till 1966.-Missions:...
- Vicariate Apostolic of Marquesas Islands
- Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania
- Vicariate Apostolic of Sandwich Isands
- Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti
See also
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical)
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view)
- List of Roman Catholic archdioceses
- List of Roman Catholic military diocesesMilitary ordinariateA military ordinariate is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church, of Latin or Eastern Rite, responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics serving in the armed forces of a nation....
- List of Roman Catholic apostolic administrationsApostolic AdministratorAn apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
- List of Eastern Catholic exarchates
- List of Roman Catholic apostolic prefecturesApostolic prefectAn apostolic prefect is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a missionary area where the Catholic Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have it made a diocese....
- List of Roman Catholic territorial prelaturesTerritorial PrelateA territorial prelate is, in Catholic usage, a prelate whose geographic jurisdiction, called territorial prelature, does not belong to any diocese and is considered a particular church....
- List of Roman Catholic missions sui jurisMission sui iurisA mission sui iuris, or in Latin missio sui iuris, also known as an independent mission, is a rare type of Roman Catholic missionary pseudo-diocesan jurisdiction in an area with very few Catholics, often desolate or remote....
External links
- List of Current Apostolic Vicariates by Giga-Catholic Information