Apostolic prefecture

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Catholic Church hierarchy § Equivalents of diocesan bishops in law
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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 usually has an (embryonal) see, it is often not called after such city but rather after a natural feature, or administrative geographical area, which may be a name in use by the local inhabitants, or one assigned by a colonial authority, depending on the circumstances under which the prefecture was established.

If a prefecture grows and flourishes, it may be elevated to an

exempt, that is, directly subject to the Holy See, specifically the Dicastery for Evangelization, rather than, as a diocese normally would, belong to an ecclesiastical province
.

The full sequence of development is: independent mission, apostolic prefecture, apostolic vicariate, apostolic diocese; however steps may be skipped at the papal discretion, so the next steps may be bishopric or even archbishopric.

The apostolic prefecture and the apostolic vicariate are to be distinguished from the

abbey nullius
").

History

During the last centuries of the second millennium it was the practice of the Holy See to govern either through prefects apostolic or

apostolic vicariates, many territories where no dioceses with resident bishops were erected and where local circumstances, such as the character and customs of the people or hostility of civil powers, made it doubtful whether an episcopal see could be permanently established. The establishing of a prefecture apostolic in a place supposes that the Church has attained only a small development in the area. Fuller growth leads to the foundation of an apostolic vicariate as an intermediate stage to becoming a diocese.[1]

"An apostolic vicariate or apostolic prefecture is a certain portion of the people of God which has not yet been established as a diocese due to special circumstances and which, to be shepherded, is entrusted to an apostolic vicar or apostolic prefect who governs it in the name of the Supreme Pontiff." Can. 371 §1.[2]

A prefect apostolic is of lower rank than a vicar apostolic. The prefect's powers are more limited and do not normally possess the episcopal character, as is ordinarily the case with a vicar apostolic. The duties of a prefect apostolic consist in directing the work of the mission entrusted to his care; his powers are in general those necessarily connected with the ordinary administration of such an office, for instance: the assigning of missionaries and the making of regulations for the good management of the affairs of the mission.[1]

Prefects apostolic govern independent territories and are subject only to the

Propaganda Fide
on 12 September 1896, and established superiors with special dependence on the papal representatives of the areas concerned.

In 1911 there were 66 prefectures apostolic: 5 in Europe; 17 in Asia; 3 in North America (e.g., the Yukon); 11 in South America; 23 in Africa and 7 in Oceania.

At the end of 2010, the prefectures apostolic were only 39, of which the vast majority (29) were in PR China (many vacant), where development of the Catholic Church, including that of the prefectures, had long been hindered by actions of the government. The 10 other prefectures included a newly created one for Azerbaijan, 4 more in Asia, 3 in Africa, 1 in the Americas and 1 in Oceania.[3]

Current apostolic prefectures

In China

Elsewhere in Eurasia

  • Battambang (បាត់ដំបង) in Cambodia[5]
  • Kampong Cham (កំពង់ចាម) in Cambodia
  • Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia[6]
  • Yuzhno Sakhalinsk in Asian Russia and Japan
  • Azerbaijan
    (raised to the level of prefecture on 4 August 2011; had been Mission sui iuris of Baku from 11 October 2006)

Americas

Oceania

  • Agana
    .

Africa

  • Misurata
    , in Libya
  • Robe, in Ethiopia[8]
  • Western Sahara

Former apostolic prefectures

(very incomplete)

Most former apostolic prefectures were promoted to

archdiocese
(under a residential bishop), but some ceased to exist (at least under their name or extent) being suppressed or sometimes dismembered.

Europe

Germany

Asia

China

Indian subcontinent

Malay Archipelago

Americas

North and central America

  • Îles de la Terre Ferme
    (now Fort-de-France–Saint-Pierre|)
  • United States

South America

  • Alto Solimões
    (promoted diocese)
  • Apostolic Prefecture of Araucanía
  • Tefé
    (now Territorial Prelature)
  • Tumaco

Oceania

Africa and Indian Ocean

North Africa

Horn of Africa

  • Eritrea

Indian Ocean islands

  • Islands of the Indian Ocean, then
    Bourbon
    (now Diocese of Saint-Denis de La Réunion)

West Africa

  • Bobo-Dioulasso
    (promoted Archdiocese, in Burkina Faso)
  • Katanga
    (then Belgian Congo)
  • Apostolic Prefecture of Kayes
    (now Diocese in Mali)
  • Mupoi
    (Diocese of Tombura-Yambio)
  • N’Zérékoré
  • Oubangui Chari
    (French colonial name of Central African Republic; now Metropolitan of Bangui)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Papi, Hector. "Prefect Apostolic." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 22 February 2023 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Code of Canon Law, Book II
  3. ^ Annuario Pontificio 2012, pp. 1061-1065
  4. ^ "Apostolic Prefecture of Qiqihar", UCA News
  5. ^ Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
  6. ^ Mares, Courtney. "Bishop in Mongolia will be the youngest cardinal", CNA, June 2, 2022
  7. ^ Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands
  8. ^ "Robe Apostolic Prefecture", Agenzia Fides, 1 April 2022

Sources and external links

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Prefect Apostolic". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

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