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 / 39.09; 39.70
Population	(as of 2014) 2,800
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	Cathedral of the Annunciation, İskenderun
Co-cathedral	Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, Mersin
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Apostolic Vicar	Sede vacante
Apostolic Administrator	Antuan Ilgit
Bishops emeritus	Paolo Bizzeti
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 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of İzmir in western Anatolia.
• Restored on 20 June 1931 as the Mission sui iuris of Trabzon, its territory taken from the Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople.^[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 İzmir 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] – 25 November 2024)
  • Antuan Ilgit SJ, apostolic administrator (25 November 2024-present)

See also

• Catholic Church in Turkey