An apostolic vicariate is a territorial

jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' and 'speech' or 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, the concept of jurisdiction applies at multiple level ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

under a

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 Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

centered in

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thoma ...

regions and countries where

diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, prov ...

s or

parishes A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or ...

have not yet been established. The status of apostolic vicariate is often a promotion for a former

apostolic prefect An apostolic prefect or prefect apostolic is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a 'pre-diocesan' missionary jurisdiction where the Catholic Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have it made a diocese. Although it ...

ure, while either may have started out as a mission ''sui iuris''. 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 The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

for the Church to create a diocese one day. It is exempt under

canon law Canon law (from , , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its membe ...

, directly subject to the missionary

Dicastery for Evangelization The Dicastery for Evangelization is a department (dicastery) of the Roman Curia. It was created on 5 June 2022 through the merger of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peop ...

of the Vatican in Rome. Like the stage of

apostolic prefecture An apostolic prefect or prefect apostolic is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a 'pre-diocesan' missionary jurisdiction where the Catholic Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have it made a diocese. Although it ...

which often precedes it, the vicariate is not part of an

ecclesiastical province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian churches, including those of both Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity, that have traditional hierarchical structures. An ecclesiastical province consist ...

. It is intended to mature in developing Catholic members until it can be promoted to a (usually suffragan) diocese. The

Eastern Catholic The Eastern Catholic Churches or Oriental Catholic Churches, also known as the Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches, Eastern Rite Catholicism, or simply the Eastern Churches, are 23 Eastern Christian autonomous ('' sui iuris'') particular churches of ...

and

Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, and also called the Greek Orthodox Church or simply the Orthodox Church, is List of Christian denominations by number of members, one of the three major doctrinal and ...

counterpart is an (apostolic, patriarchal, or archiepiscopal)

exarchate An exarchate is any territorial jurisdiction, either secular or ecclesiastical, whose ruler is called an exarch. Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Con ...

Institution

An apostolic vicariate is led by a vicar apostolic, who is usually a

. While such a territory can be classed as a

particular church In metaphysics, particulars or individuals are usually contrasted with ''universals''. Universals concern features that can be exemplified by various different particulars. Particulars are often seen as concrete, spatiotemporal entities as opposed ...

, according to canon 371.1 of the Latin

Code of Canon Law Code of Canon Law () may refer to: * '' Corpus Juris Canonici'' ('Body of Canon Law'), a collection of sources of canon law of the Catholic Church applicable to the Latin Church until 1918 * 1917 ''Code of Canon Law'', code of canon law for the Ca ...

, a vicar apostolic's jurisdiction is an exercise of the jurisdiction of the

pope The pope is the bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church#Catholic Church, visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the po ...

—the territory comes directly under the pope as "universal bishop", and the pope exercises this authority through a "vicar".Code of Canon Law, Book II, Canon 371§1
/ref> 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 An apostolic administration in the Catholic Church is administrated by a prelate appointed by the pope to serve as the ordinary for a specific area. Either the area is not yet a diocese (a stable 'pre-diocesan', usually missionary apostolic admi ...

. As in a regular diocese, the vicar apostolic may appoint priests as

vicar A vicar (; Latin: '' vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English p ...

s exercising limited jurisdiction over the apostolic vicariate. Normally, a

is appointed to administer the apostolic vicariate. When someone who does not qualify or has not been ordained as bishop is appointed ''ad interim'', he may be styled Pro-vicar.Fanning, William. "Vicar Apostolic." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 8 March 2023 An apostolic vicariate is to be distinguished from an

ure, a similar type of territory whose chief distinction from an apostolic vicariate is that its

prefect Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area. A prefect' ...

is not a

, but a priest. The prefecture is not considered organised enough to be elevated to apostolic vicariate. The less developed instance is the

mission sui iuris In the canon law of the Catholic Church, a mission (, pl. ), also known as an independent mission, can be defined as: "an ecclesial structure erected from a previous territory, with explicit boundaries, under the care of a religious communit ...

, which other than the ones mentioned before is not a particular church, although it shares some similarities to one; at its head, an ''ecclesiastical superior'' is named. The usual sequence of development is mission, apostolic prefecture, apostolic vicariate, and finally

(or even archdiocese). See also

apostolic exarch An exarch (; from Ancient Greek ἔξαρχος ''exarchos'') was the holder of any of various historical offices, some of them being political or military and others being ecclesiastical. In the late Roman Empire and early Byzantine Empire, ...

for an Eastern Catholic counterpart. 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 is an ecclesiastical title given to the head of an independent monastery for men in various Western Christian traditions. The name is derived from ''abba'', the Aramaic form of the Hebrew ''ab'', and means "father". The female equivale ...

of a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

. Starting in 2019, new vicars apostolic, although they are (or become) bishops, are no longer assigned titular sees.

List

Current apostolic vicariates

Africa

Apostolic Vicariate of Alexandria of Egypt The Apostolic Vicariate of Alexandria of Egypt, or in full - of Alexandria of Egypt-Heliopolis-Port Said () is a Roman Catholic Apostolic vicariate (missionary ordinariate) in Egypt, named after its cathedral see in Alexandria, a port city and fo ...

Apostolic Vicariate of Awasa The Apostolic Vicariate of Awasa () is a Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate in central Ethiopia. It is exempt, i.e. directly dependent on the Holy See (notably the Roman missionary Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples), not part of any ...

, Ethiopia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Benghazi The Apostolic Vicariate of Benghazi () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Libya. It is immediately exempt to the Holy See and not part of any ecclesiastical province. Its cathedral, Beng ...

, Libya *

Apostolic Vicariate of Derna The Apostolic Vicariate of Derna () is a Latin Church missionary territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Derna, Libya. It has an episcopal see, but no cathedral. The apostolic vicariate is exempt to the Holy See, specifically ...

, Libya * Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, Ghana *

Apostolic Vicariate of Harar The Apostolic Vicariate of Harar () is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in the city of Harar in Ethiopia. The Vicariate Apostolic of Harar comprises East and West Hararghe zones and Fentale and Boset woredas of East Shewa in Oromiya ...

, Ethiopia * Apostolic Vicariate of Hosanna, Ethiopia * Apostolic Vicariate of Ingwavuma, South Africa *

Apostolic Vicariate of Makokou The Apostolic Vicariate of Makokou (French: ''Vicariat apostolique de Makokou'') is the last Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction in Gabon, Equatorial Africa, as the rest of the country forms the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archbi ...

in Gabon *

Apostolic Vicariate of Meki The Apostolic Vicariate of Meki () is a Latin Catholic apostolic vicariate located in Meki, Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East ...

, Ethiopia * Apostolic Vicariate of Mongo,

Chad Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North Africa, North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to Chad–Libya border, the north, Sudan to Chad–Sudan border, the east, the Central Afric ...

Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte The Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte () is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate (pre-diocesan jurisdiction) located in Nekemte, Ethiopia (where Ethiopian Orthodox, Islam and Coptic Catholicism are predominant). The see is directly subject to the Ho ...

, Ethiopia * Apostolic Vicariate of Rodrigues, Mauritius *

Apostolic Vicariate of Rundu The Apostolic Vicariate of Rundu () is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate in Namibia (southwestern Africa). Its cathedral episcopal seat is St. Mary's in the city of Rundu. Although a missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction, it is not exempt b ...

, Namibia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo The Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo () is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in the city of Sodo in Ethiopia. The Vicariate Apostolic of Soddo comprises Wolayta, Dawro, Gamu Gofa, North and South Omo zones and Derashe, Konso and Konta spec ...

, Ethiopia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli The Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli () is a Latin Church missionary territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Tripolitania, Libya. It is immediately exempt to the Holy See, depending on the Roman Congregation for the Evangelizat ...

, Libya

The Americas

* Apostolic Vicariate of Aguarico, Ecuador *

Apostolic Vicariate of Aysén The Apostolic Vicariate of Aysén () is a Latin Church missionary ecclesiastical territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Chile. Originally, it was established as an apostolic prefecture on 17 February 1940 by Pope Pius XII and w ...

, Chile *

Apostolic Vicariate of Camiri The Vicariate Apostolic of Camiri () is a Latin Church missionary ecclesiastical territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Bolivia. Its cathedra is found in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in the episcopal see of Camiri. H ...

, Bolivia * Apostolic Vicariate of Caroní, Venezuela *

Apostolic Vicariate of Chaco Paraguayo The Vicariate Apostolic of Chaco Paraguayo () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church located in the city of Fuerte Olimpo in Paraguay. History On 11 March 1948, Pope Pius XII established the Vica ...

, Paraguay *

Apostolic Vicariate of Darién The Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of Darién () was erected on 29 November 1925. Ordinaries *Juan José Maíztegui y Besoitaiturria, Claretians, C.M.F. (1926 - 1932) *José María Preciado y Nieva, C.M.F. (1934 - 1955) *Jesús Serrano Pastor ...

, Panama * Apostolic Vicariate of El Beni, Bolivia *

Apostolic Vicariate of El Petén The Vicariate Apostolic of El Petén () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Petén Department, Guatemala. Its cathedral is the ''Catedral Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios y San Pablo Itz� ...

, Guatemala *

Apostolic Vicariate of Esmeraldas The Apostolic Vicariate (or Vicariate Apostolic) of Esmeraldas () is a missionary pre-diocesan circonscription of the Roman Catholic Church. Its cathedral see Catedral Cristo Rey is located in the town of Esmeraldas, Ecuador, Esmeraldas in Ecuador ...

, Ecuador *

Apostolic Vicariate of Galapagos Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

, Ecuador *

Apostolic Vicariate of Guapi The Vicariate Apostolic of Guapi () in the Catholic Church is located in the town of Guapi, Cauca in Colombia. History On 5 April 1954 Pope Pius XII established the Prefecture Apostolic of Guapi from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tumaco, Prefectu ...

, Colombia * Apostolic Vicariate of Inírida, Colombia * Apostolic Vicariate of Iquitos, Peru * Apostolic Vicariate of Jaén in Peru/San Francisco Javier * Apostolic Vicariate of Leticia, Colombia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Méndez The Apostolic Vicariate (or Vicariate Apostolic) of Méndez () is a missionary circonscription of the Roman Catholic Church. Its cathedral see, Catedral Purísima de Macas, is located in the city of Macas in Ecuador's Morona-Santiago province. ...

, Ecuador *

Apostolic Vicariate of Mitú The Vicariate Apostolic of Mitú () is a Latin pre-diocesan jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Colombia. It is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See (not part of any ecclesiastical province) and depends on the missionary Roman Cong ...

, Colombia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Napo The Apostolic Vicariate (Vicariate Apostolic) of Napo () is a missionary circonscription (quasi-diocese) of the Roman Catholic Church. Its cathedral see, Catedral San José, is located in the city of Tena, capital of Napo Province in Ecuador's Ama ...

, Ecuador * Apostolic Vicariate of Ñuflo de Chávez, Bolivia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Pando The Vicariate Apostolic of Pando () is a Latin Church missionary ecclesiastical territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Bolivia. Its cathedra is located in the episcopal see of Riberalta. History * April 29, 1942: Established a ...

, Bolivia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Pilcomayo The Vicariate Apostolic of Pilcomayo () is a Latin Church missionary territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Paraguay. It is exempt to the Holy See, specifically the Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and is ...

, Paraguay * Apostolic Vicariate of Pucallpa, Peru * Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela * Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Carreño, Colombia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Gaitán The Vicariate Apostolic of Puerto Gaitán () in the Catholic Church is located in the town of Puerto Gaitán in Colombia. The church has actively engaged with international accusations of child molestation, receiving public acclaim for its bold s ...

, Colombia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Leguízamo-Solano The Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Leguízamo-Solano () is a Latin missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in southern Colombia. It is exempt, i.e. directly dependent on the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province. I ...

, Colombia * Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Maldonado, Peru *

Apostolic Vicariate of Puyo The Apostolic Vicariate (Vicariate Apostolic) of Puyo () is an Apostolic Vicariate (missionary pre-diocesan circumscription) of the Roman Catholic Church. It has a cathedral see, the Catedral Nuestra Señora del Rosario, located in the city of Pu ...

, Ecuador * Apostolic Vicariate of Requena, Peru *

Apostolic Vicariate of Reyes The Vicariate Apostolic of Reyes () is a Latin Church missionary ecclesiastical territory apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Bolivia. Its cathedra is located in the episcopal see of Reyes. History On 1 September 1942 Pope Pius XII est ...

, Bolivia *

Apostolic Vicariate of San Andrés y Providencia The Vicariate Apostolic of San Andrés y Providencia () in the Catholic Church is located in the town of San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia in Colombia. History On 20 June 1912 Pius X established the mission ''sui iuris'' of San Andrés y Pro ...

, Colombia * Apostolic Vicariate of San José de Amazonas, Peru *

Apostolic Vicariate of San Miguel de Sucumbíos The Apostolic Vicariate (or Vicariate Apostolic) of San Miguel de Sucumbíos () is a missionary entity of the Roman Catholic Church. Its cathedral see, the Catedral Nuestra Señora del Cisne, is located in the city of Nueva Loja, Sucumbíos Provin ...

, Ecuador * Apostolic Vicariate of San Ramon, Peru *

Apostolic Vicariate of Tierradentro The Apostolic Vicariate of Tierradentro () in the Catholic Church is located in the town of Belalcázar in the municipality of Páez, Cauca, in Colombia. History On 13 May 1921 Pope Benedict XV established the Prefecture Apostolic of Tierradentro ...

, Colombia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Trinidad The Apostolic Vicariate of Trinidad () in the Catholic Church is located in the town of Trinidad, Casanare in Colombia. History On 29 October 1999 Blessed John Paul II established the Apostolic Vicariate of Trinidad from the suppressed Apostol ...

, Colombia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Tucupita The Apostolic Vicariate (or Vicariate Apostolic) of Tucupita () is a missionary circonscription of the Roman Catholic Church in Venezuela. It is exempt, i.e. directly dependent on the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province. Its cathedr ...

, Venezuela * Apostolic Vicariate of Yurimaguas, Peru * Apostolic Vicariate of Zamora, Ecuador

Asia

Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo The Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo (in Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Aleppensis) is an apostolic vicariate (Latin pre-diocesan missionary jurisdiction of the Latin Church, entitled to a titular bishop) and is immediately subject to the Holy See a ...

, Syria *

Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia The Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia (, ) is a Roman Catholic Latin apostolic vicariate in the eastern half of Anatolia (Asian Turkey). The missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction is not part of any ecclesiastical province. It is under the directi ...

, Turkey *

Apostolic Vicariate of Beirut The Apostolic Vicariate of Beirut (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Berytensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Lebanon, where Eastern Catholics are far more numerous. In 2010, there wer ...

, Lebanon *

Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe The Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe (in Latin: ''Vicariatus Apostolicus Bontocensis-Lagavensis'') is a Latin Church missionary ecclesiastical jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It is directly ex ...

, Philippines *

Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam The Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam () is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction covering the territory of Catholic Church in Brunei, Brunei and headed by an ''apostolic vicar''. The first apostolic vicar was Cornelius Sim, who w ...

, Brunei *

Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan The Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan (Latin: ''Vicariatus Apostolicus Calapanensis'') is a Latin Church missionary jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. In 2010, 756,000 residents had been bapt ...

, Philippines * Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo, Philippines *

Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang The Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang () is a Latin Church, Latin Rite jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Laos. As an apostolic vicariate, it is a pre-diocesan jurisdiction, entitled to a titular bishop. It is located in northern Laos. It ...

, Laos * Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, Nepal *

Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia * Apostolic Vicariate of Paksé, Laos * Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh, Cambodia *

Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa The Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa is a Latin Church missionary jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church located in the Province of Palawan, Philippines. Its cathedra is within Immaculate Conception Cathedral in the ep ...

, Philippines *

Apostolic Vicariate of Quetta The Apostolic Vicariate of Quetta (), originally the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta, is a Latin Church missionary territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in Pakistan. It comprises the civil province of Balochistan and the Kachhi r ...

, Pakistan *

Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in Mindoro The Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in Mindoro is a Latin Church missionary jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in the western part of Mindoro island in the Philippines. Its cathedra is within the Cathedral-Parish of St. J ...

, Philippines *

Apostolic Vicariate of Savannakhet The Apostolic Vicariate of Savannakhet () is a territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Laos. As an apostolic vicariate, it is a pre-diocesan jurisdiction, entitled to a titular bishop. It is located in central Laos. It is exempt, i.e. ...

, Laos *

Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (; ) is an apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church with territorial jurisdiction over Oman, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The current vicar apostolic is Paolo Martinelli. It was first establishe ...

, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Yemen *

Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk The Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk is a Latin Church ecclesiastical missionary jurisdiction or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in the Philippines covering the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao in northern Luzon. It is exempt (directly s ...

, Philippines *

Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay The Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay is a Latin Catholic pre-diocesan missionary jurisdiction in the island of Palawan in the Philippines. It is not a part of any ecclesiastical province as it is directly subject to the Holy See (under the jurisdic ...

, Philippines *

Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane The Apostolic Vicariate (or Vicariate Apostolic) of Vientiane (; ) is a territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church located in northern Laos. As an apostolic vicariate, it is a pre-diocesan jurisdiction, entitled to a titular bishop, and it i ...

, Laos

Europe

Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki The Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in northern continental Greece. It is exempt to the Holy See and is not part of any ecclesiastical province, and ...

, Greece *

Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul The Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul () is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in Istanbul, Turkey.

, Turkey

Historical apostolic vicariates

:(incomplete) Inactive apostolic vicariates (or former names, often promoted to diocese) are in ''italics''.

(mostly Byzantine Rite) apostolic vicariates are in bold.

Africa

* '' Apostolic Vicariate of Bomadi'', Nigeria * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of the Congo The 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. The first vicar apostolic appointed ...

'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Dahomey The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Lagos in Nigeria. History Background The origin of the Archdiocese of Lagos dates back to the effort of Irish and French missionaries of the S ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of French Congo'', or Lower Congo * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown The Roman Catholic Diocese of Francistown () is a Roman Catholic diocese located in the city of Francistown, Botswana, in the ecclesiastical province of Pretoria in South Africa. History * 27 June 1998: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Fra ...

'', Botswana * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Isiolo'', Kenya * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Kamerun Kamerun was an African colony of the German Empire from 1884 to 1916 in the region of today's Republic of Cameroon. Kamerun also included northern parts of Gabon and the Congo with western parts of the Central African Republic, southwestern p ...

'', Cameroon * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Kenia Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'', Kenya * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Kimberley in Orange'', South Africa * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Kontagora'', Nigeria * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Mauritius'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Victoria Nyanza The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern (Victoria) Nyanza () was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction in present Uganda. Origins The mission of Victoria Nyanza was founded in 1878 by the White Fathers of Cardinal Lavigerie, was erected into the A ...

'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Sahara The 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 t ...

'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Senegambia The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dakar (, French: ''Archidiocèse catholique romain de Dakar'') is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Dakar in Senegal. History * February 2, 1863: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Sene ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Shire'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Sudan'' or Central-Africa * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Unyanyembe''

The Americas

* ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Alaska The Diocese of Fairbanks () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the northern part of the state of Alaska in the United States. It was formerly named the Prefecture Apostolic of Alaska (1894–1917), t ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of San José de Amazonas'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Athabasca'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Beni The Apostolic Vicariate of El Beni (or Beni for short) () is a Latin Church missionary ecclesiastical territory or apostolic vicariate. As an exempt territory, it is not part of any ecclesiastical province. Its cathedra is in the Catedral de la S ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Bluefields'', Nicaragua * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Casanare The Apostolic Vicariate of Casanare () was a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate, located in the central eastern region of Colombia. The Apostolic Vicariate of Casanare was created in 1893 and was suppressed in 1999 when the Roman Catholic Dioces ...

'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Dakota Territory Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Goajira The Apostolic Vicariate of Goajira was a Roman Catholic missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction on the Guajira Peninsula The Guajira Peninsula (, also spelled ''Goajira'', mainly in colonial period texts, ) is a peninsula in northern Colombia a ...

'' * Apostolic Vicariate of Izabal, Guatemala * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Keewatin'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Limón'', Costa Rica * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Lower California Baja California, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California, is a state in Mexico. It is the northwesternmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of B ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Machiques'', Venezuela * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Marysville The Diocese of Grass Valley () now a titular see, was formerly a residential Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church located in northeastern California, United States. The diocese also included most of Nevada, and, early in its history, Utah an ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Mackenzie'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Montevideo'', Uruguay (erected 1830, promoted to Diocese 1878) * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Nebraska'', United States * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Minnesota Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Riohacha'', Colombia * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of San Gabriel de la Dolorosa del Maranon The Vicariate Apostolic of Yurimaguas () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church is located in the episcopal see of Yurimaguas in Peru. History On 27 February 1921 Pope Benedict XV established the ...

'' (renamed Yurimaguas), Peru * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of San José del Guaviare Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'', Colombia * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of San Vicente del Caguán Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'', Colombia * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Iles Saint-Pierre et Miquelon'', Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, in 2018 merged to Diocese of La Rochelle and Sainte * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Sucumbíos'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Ucayali'', Peru (was suppressed in 1956 by erection of three new vicariates)

Asia

* ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Amoy The Roman Catholic Diocese of Xiamen/Amoy/Hsíamen (, ) is a diocese located in the city of Xiamen (Fujian) in the ecclesiastical province of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Fuzhou, Fuzhou in China. History * December 3, 1883: Established as Apost ...

'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia'', Indonesia * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Changanacherry Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'', India * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Ernakulam Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'', India * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Kiang-nan'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Korea'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Kottayam The Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam is a Knanaya metropolitan archeparchy of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India. The archeparchy is exclusively for Knanaya faithful who claim to be the descendants of Syriac Judeo-Christians ...

'', India * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Lhasa'', Sikkim and Tibet * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Madras'', India * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Kan-Su The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lanzhou (, ) is a Latin Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Catholic church with an Ecclesiastical province, yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Its archiepiscopal see ...

'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Kienchang'', China * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Shan-Si The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Taiyuan (, ) is an archdiocese located in the city of Taiyuan (Shanxi) in China. History * June 17, 1890: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Shansi 山西北境 from the Apostolic Vicariate of Shansi ...

'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Shantung'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Patna'', India * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Shan-Si The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lu'an/Changzhi (, ) (Not to be confused with Lu'an (六安) in Anhui province) is a diocese located in the city of Lu'an in the ecclesiastical province of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Taiyuan, Taiyuan in China. Cur ...

'', China * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Shan-Tung Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'', China * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Shen-Si Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Shunking'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Szechwan'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Szechwan'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Southeastern Szechwan'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Tibet-Hindustan'', India and Tibet * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Trichur Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'', India * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Wanhsien'', China * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Yachow'', China

Europe

* '' Apostolic Vicariate of Bosnia'', former Ottoman Empire * '' Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople'', former Ottoman Empire * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Gibraltar The Diocese of Gibraltar () is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. About twenty priests and nine sisters serve in the diocese. Carmelo Zammit was installed as bishop on 24 September 2016. ...

'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Herzegovina Apostolic Vicariate of Herzegovina (; ) was an apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman Herzegovina Eyalet, Herzegovina that existed between 1846 and 1881, when it was abolished with the Roman Catholic Diocese of ...

'', former Ottoman Empire * ''

Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Macedonia The Macedonian Apostolic Vicariate of the Bulgarians ( or ''Vicariatus Apostolicus pro Bulgaris Catholicis Macedoniae''), informally ''Macedonia of the Bulgarians'', was one of the missionary, pre-diocesan jurisdiction of the Bulgarian Greek Ca ...

'', former Ottoman Empire * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Marča'', Croatia * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Germany'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of England The Apostolic Vicariate of England (and Wales) was an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. It was led by a vicar apostolic (or apostolic vicar) who was a titular bishop. The apostolic vicariate was created ...

* '' Apostolic Vicariate of Scotland'' * ''

Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Thrace The Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Tracia (informally Tracia of the Bulgarians) was the second missionary, pre-diocesan jurisdiction of the Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church ''sui iuris'' (Eastern Catholic, Byzantine Rite in Bulgarian ...

'', former Ottoman Empire

Oceania

* ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Alexishafen The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madang is a Metropolitan Diocese, Metropolitan Archdiocese in Papua New Guinea with suffragan dioceses of Roman Catholic Diocese of Aitape, Aitape, Roman Catholic Diocese of Lae, Lae, Roman Catholic Diocese of Va ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Central Oceania'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Fiji Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of the Gilbert Islands'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Marquesas Islands'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of New Pomerania'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Oriental Oceania The Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction for some of the South Sea (Pacific) islands from 1833 till 1848. History The whole of Oceania had at first been entrusted by the Roman Congregation Propagand ...

'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Sandwich Islands The Hawaiian Islands () are an archipelago of eight major volcanic islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll. Formerly ca ...

'' * ''

Apostolic Vicariate of Tahiti Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

'' * '' Apostolic Vicariate of Western Oceania''

References

External links

List of current Apostolic Vicariates
at GCatholic.org (regularly refreshed) {{Catholicism