Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia
The Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Anatoliensis) is a Roman Catholic Latin apostolic vicariate, in the eastern half of Anatolia (Asian Turkey).
Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia Vicariatus Apostolicus Anatoliensis Anadolu Apostolik taşındi | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Turkey |
Metropolitan | None (immediately subject to the Holy See) |
Population - Catholics (including non-members) | (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 | Paolo Bizzeti |
Map | |
Website | |
Website of the Vicariate |
The missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction is not part of any ecclesiastical province. Under the direction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, an unusual structure for a Latin see, it is directly dependent on the Holy See.
Its cathedral seat is the Marian Cathedral of the Annunciation in İskenderun (Alexandria). It has the Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua in Mersin as well.
History
- Established originally on 13 March 1845 as Apostolic Prefecture of Trabzon, named after its then see at the Black Sea, not invoking any local apostolic succession.
- Suppressed on 12 September 1896, its territory being merged into the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir (in western Anatolia).
- Restored on 20 June 1931 as Mission sui iuris of Trabzon, on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinopole.[1]
- Promoted on 30 November 1990 as Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia,[2] since led by a titular bishop.
As of 2020, the vicariate, which covers 450k square kilometers, had six parishes and two missions to serve a thousand Turkish Christians as well as Christian refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.[3]
Ordinaries
- Apostolic Prefects of Trabzon (Independent Mission)
- Friar Damiano da Viareggio, 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 – 12 September 1896)
- Ecclesiastical Superiors of Trabzon
- Fr. Michele da Capodistria, O.F.M. Cap. (20 June 1931 – 9 March 1933)
- Fr. Giovanni Giannetti da Fivizzano, O.F.M. Cap. (9 March 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. (19 December 1966 – 22 January 1983)
- Bernardini became an archbishop and remained as apostolic administrator (22 January 1983 – 30 November 1990)
- Apostolic Vicars of Anatolia
- Bernardini continued as apostolic administrator when the vicariate was erected (30 November 1990[2] – 2 July 1993)
- Ruggero Franceschini, O.F.M. Cap. (2 July 1993[4] – 11 October 2004)[5]
- Luigi Padovese, O.F.M. Cap. (11 October 2004[5] – 3 June 2010)
- Franceschini returned as apostolic administrator (12 June 2010 – 14 August 2015)
- Paolo Bizzeti, S.J. (14 August 2015[6][7] – present)
See also
- Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul (Constantinople)
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Izmir
References
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). XXIII. 1931. pp. 402–3. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). LXXXIII. 1991. p. 151. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- Uguccioni, Cristina (17 February 2020). "I vescovi del Mediterraneo a Bari, Bizzeti: sogno un liceo internazionale per futuri leader promotori di una pace attiva". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- "Rinunce e Nomine, 11.10.2004" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 11 October 2004. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- "Rinunce e Nomine, 11.10.2004" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 11 October 2004. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- "Turkey, the Pope: the Jesuit Bizzeti in the office that belonged to Padovese". La Stampa. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- "Rinunce e nomine, 14.08.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2020.