Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia

The Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia (Vicariatus Apostolicus Anatoliensis, Anadolu Havarisel Vekilliği) 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 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.
 * Promoted on 30 November 1990 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia, 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.

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
 * Ruggero Franceschini, OFMCap (2 July 1993 – 11 October 2004)
 * Luigi Padovese, OFMCap (11 October 2004 – 3 June 2010)
 * Franceschini returned as apostolic administrator (12 June 2010 – 14 August 2015)
 * Paolo Bizzeti, SJ (14 August 2015 – present)

Sources and external links

 * GCatholic.org with incumbent bio links
 * Catholic Hierarchy