Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia

Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia Vicariatus Apostolicus Anatoliensis Anadolu Apostolik taşındi
Location
Country	Turkey
Metropolitan	Immediately subject to the Holy See
Population - Catholics	(as of 2010) 4,363
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	Cathedral of the Annunciation, İskenderun
Co-cathedral	Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, Mersin
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Apostolic Vicar	Bishop-elect Padre Paolo Bizzeti, S.I., Titular Bishop-elect of Tabe, was appointed Vicar Apostolic-elect of Anatolia by Pope Francis to succeed Bishop Luigi Padovese on Saturday, August 15, 2015[1]
Apostolic Administrator	Ruggero Franceschini
Map
Website
Website of the Vicariate

The Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Anatoliensis) is a Roman Catholic Latin apostolic vicariate, in the eastern half of Anatolia (Asian Turkey).

The missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction is exempt, i.e. directly dependent on the Holy See (notably the Roman Congregation for the Oriental Churches, unusual for a Latin see), not part of any ecclesiastical province.

Its cathedral episcopal see is the Marian Cathedral of the Annunciation, in İskenderun (Alexandria). It also has a Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, in Mersin.

History

• Established originally on March 13, 1845 as Apostolic Prefecture of Trabzon, named after its then see at the Black Sea, not invoking any local apostolic succession.
• Suppressed on September 12, 1896, its territory being merged into the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir (in western Anatolia).
• Restored on June 20, 1931, albeit demoted totally, as Mission sui iuris of Trabzon, on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinopole.
• Promoted on November 30, 1990 as Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia, since entitled to a titular bishop.

Ordinaries

(all Roman Rite, so far missionary European members of Latin congregations)

Apostolic Prefects of Trabzon (Independent Mission)

• Friar Damiano da Viareggio, Capuchin Friars Minor (O.F.M. Cap.) (1845 – 1852)
• Friar Filippo Maria da Bologna, O.F.M. Cap. (1852 – 1881)
• Friar Eugenio da Modica, O.F.M. Cap. (1881 – September 12, 1896)

see suppressed

Ecclesiastical Superiors of Trabzon

• Fr. Michele da Capodistria, O.F.M. Cap. (June 20, 1931 – March 9, 1933)
• Fr. Giovanni Giannetti da Fivizzano, O.F.M. Cap. (March 9, 1933 – 1955)
• Fr. Prospero Germini da Ospitaletto, O.F.M. Cap. (1955 – 1961)
• Fr. Michele Salardi da Novellara, O.F.M. Cap. (1961 – 1966)
• Fr. Giuseppe Germano Bernardini, O.F.M. Cap. (December 19, 1966 – January 22, 1983 see below), later Apostolic Administrator of Trabzon (1983.01.22 – 1990.11.30), Metropolitan Archbishop of Izmir (Turkey) (1983.01.22 – 2004.10.11), President of Episcopal Conference of Turkey (1989 – 1992), Apostolic Administrator of Anatolia (Turkey) (1990.11.30 – 1993.07.02)
• Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Giuseppe Germano Bernardini, O.F.M. Cap. (see above January 22, 1983 – July 2, 1993)

Apostolic Vicars of Anatolia

• Ruggero Franceschini, O.F.M. Cap. (July 2, 1993 – October 11, 2004), Titular Bishop of Sicilibba (1993.07.02 – 2004.10.11); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Izmir (Turkey) (2004.10.11 – retired 2015.11.07), Apostolic Administrator of Anatolia (Turkey) (2010.06.12 – 2015.08.14); President of Episcopal Conference of Turkey (2001 – 2007.10 & 2010.09 – 2015.11.07)
• Luigi Padovese, O.F.M. Cap. (October 11, 2004 – death June 3, 2010), Titular Bishop of Monteverde (2004.10.11 – 2010.06.03)
• Apostolic Administrator again, now sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis) Archbishop Ruggero Franceschini, O.F.M. Cap. (see above June 12, 2010 – 2015.08.14)
• Paolo Bizzeti, Jesuits (S.J.) (2015.08.14 – ...), Titular Bishop of Tabæ

See also

• Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul (Constantinople)
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Izmir

References

Sources and External links

• GCatholic.org with incumbent bio links
• Catholic Hierarchy