Apostolic vicariate

An apostolic vicariate is according to Roman Catholic canon law, a diocese on probation.

There is a Vicar Apostolic, who is titular usually and also has full jurisdiction over the territory of the Apostolic Vicariate. He has the same tasks as a diocesan bishop. In fact, however, he is not like a diocesan bishop professor from my own person, but only representative of the Pope by virtue of ordinary deputy violence ( potestas ).

After the demise of most North German dioceses in the Reformation whose territories to 1821/1824 were summarized in the Apostolic Vicariate of the North.

In the late 20th century, there were hardly Apostolic Vicariate; most of which had proved to be viable, were elevated to bishoprics. Under Pope John Paul II Apostolic Vicariate increasingly been established in the meantime again. You are often in mission territories. The precursor is the Apostolic Prefecture.

Because most mission areas are managed by religious congregations, religious are in the Apostolic vicariates usually also bishops.

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