APOSTOLIC VICARIATE

(Redirected from Vicar apostolic)
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.

Contents

Historical Apostolic vicariates

References

Historical Apostolic vicariates

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

In Africa:

★ Vicariate Apostolic of the Congo

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey

★ Vicariate Apostolic of French Congo, or Lower Congo

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Kamerun

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Kenia

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Victoria Nyanza

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Sahara

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Senegambia

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Shire

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Sudan or Central-Africa

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Unyanyembe
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 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:

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Amoy

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Batavia (Jakajarta, on Java)

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Changanacherry in Travancore, India

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Lower California

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Ernakulam in India

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Kiang-nan

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Madras

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Kan-Su

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Shan-Si

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Shan-Tung

★ Vicariate-Apostolic of Patna

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Shan-Si

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Shan-Tung

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Shen-Si

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Trichur
In Europe:

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Breda

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Gibraltar

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Germany

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Scotland
In Oceania:

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Marquesas Islands

★ Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Sandwich Isands

★ Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti

References

★ List of Current Apostolic Vicariates by Giga-Catholic Information