Apostolic vicariate

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries which do not have a diocese yet. It is therefore essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more, but the ultimate hope being that the region will generate sufficient numbers of Catholics and sufficient stability for the Church as to warrant erection as a full-fledged diocese.

An apostolic vicariate is led by a vicar apostolic, usually nowadays a titular bishop. While such a territory can be classed as particular church, according to canon 371.1 of the Latin Code of Canon Law a Vicar Apostolic's jurisdiction is a vicarious exercise of the jurisdiction of the Pope — that is to say, the territory comes directly under the pope as "universal bishop," and he 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 territorial jurisdiction, an apostolic vicariate may be administered by the bishop of a neighboring diocese and even by a priest appointed transitionally as an apostolic administrator. As in a full developed diocese, the vicar apostolic may appoint priests as vicars exercising limited jurisdiction over the apostolic vicariate.

An apostolic vicariate is to be distinguished from an apostolic prefecture, a similar type of territory under the leadership of a prefect apostolic (who is a priest) which is not yet organized enough even to be an apostolic vicariate. There is also the mission sui iuris, under a superior. The usual sequence of development is from mission to apostolic prefecture, to apostolic vicariate and finally to post-missionary diocese.

It is also to be distinguished from a territorial abbacy (or "abbey nullius") — an area not yet a diocese but under the direction of the abbot of a monastery.

[edit] Historical Apostolic vicariates

(incomplete list of former missionary jurisdictions, to be limited to those treated in Wikipedia articles or about to)
In Africa:

In the Americas:

  • Vicariate Apostolic of Aguarico
  • Vicariate Apostolic of San José del Amazonas
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Athabasca
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Beni
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Camiri
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Goajira
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Guapi
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Esmeraldas
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Inírida
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Iquitos
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Jaen in Peru
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Keewatin
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Leticia
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Lower California
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Marysville
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Mackenzie
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Méndez
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Mitú
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Napo
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Nuflo de Chávez
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Pando
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Puerto Maldonado
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Pucallpa
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Puerto Carreño
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Gaitán
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Puyos
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Reyes
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Requena
  • Vicariate Apostolic of San Andrés and providencia
  • Vicariate Apostolic of San Ramon
  • Vicariate Apostolic of San Vicente - Puerto leguízamo
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Sucumbíos
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Tierradentro
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Trinidad
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Yurimaguas
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Zamora

In Asia:

In Europe:

In Oceania:

[edit] References