Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia
The Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Anatoliensis, Turkish: Anadolu Havarisel Vekilliği) is a Roman Catholic Latin apostolic vicariate in the eastern half of Anatolia (Asian Turkey).
Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia Vicariatus Apostolicus Anatoliensis Anadolu Havarisel Vekilliği | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Turkey |
| Metropolitan | None (immediately subject to the Holy See) |
| Coordinates | 39.09°N 39.70°E |
| 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 | Paolo Bizzeti |
| Auxiliary Bishops | Antuan Ilgit |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| Website of the Vicariate | |
The missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction is not part of any ecclesiastical province. It is under the direction of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, an unusual structure for a Latin see, and 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 the Apostolic Prefecture of Trabzon, named for its location on the Black Sea, not for any preceding jurisdiction.
- Suppressed on 12 September 1896, with its territory merged into the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir in western Anatolia.
- Restored on 20 June 1931 as the Mission sui iuris of Trabzon, its territory taken from the Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinopole.[1]
- Promoted on 30 November 1990 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia,[2] 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)
- Damiano da Viareggio, OFMCap (1845 – 1852)
- Filippo Maria da Bologna, OFMCap (1852 – 1881)
- Eugenio da Modica, OFMCap. (1881 – 12 September 1896)
- Ecclesiastical Superiors of Trabzon
- Michele da Capodistria, OFMCap (20 June 1931 – 9 March 1933)
- Giovanni Giannetti da Fivizzano, OFMCap (9 March 1933 – 1955)
- Prospero Germini da Ospitaletto, OFMCap (1955 – 1961)
- Michele Salardi da Novellara, OFMCap (1961 – 1966)
- Giuseppe Germano Bernardini, OFMCap (19 December 1966 – 30 November 1990)
- When Bernardini became archbishop of Izmir in 1983, he continued here as apostolic administrator.
- Apostolic Vicars of Anatolia
- Bernardini continued as apostolic administrator when the vicariate was erected on 30 November 1990[2]
- Ruggero Franceschini, OFMCap (2 July 1993[4] – 11 October 2004)[5]
- Luigi Padovese, OFMCap (11 October 2004[5] – 3 June 2010)
- Franceschini returned as apostolic administrator (12 June 2010 – 14 August 2015)
- Paolo Bizzeti, SJ (14 August 2015[6][7] – present)
See also
References
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. XXIII. 1931. pp. 402–3. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. 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.
Sources and external links
