vicar apostolic

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Thân thiện
Definition

Noun: 1. A titular Roman Catholic bishop in a non-Catholic area: A Vicar Apostolic is a bishop who governs a missionary territory (called a vicariate apostolic) that is not yet established as a regular diocese, typically in a region where the Catholic Church is not fully developed or is a minority. He holds the title of bishop but does not head a diocese with its own cathedral chapter; his authority is delegated directly by the Pope.

Usage Examples
  • The Vicar Apostolic was responsible for the spiritual care of Catholics across the entire remote region.
  • Before the territory became a full diocese, it was overseen by a Vicar Apostolic.
  • The Pope appointed a new Vicar Apostolic to lead the mission in that non-Catholic country.
Advanced Usage
  • The term is often used in historical and ecclesiastical contexts to describe the governance of mission territories during the expansion of the Catholic Church.
  • A Vicar Apostolic is equivalent in rank and sacramental functions to a diocesan bishop but differs in canonical jurisdiction and the provisional nature of his see.
Variants and Related Words
  • Vicariate Apostolic (n): The missionary territory or district governed by a Vicar Apostolic.
  • Titular Bishop (n): A bishop assigned to a historical diocese that no longer functions as a territorial jurisdiction, often serving in an auxiliary capacity or, as in this case, governing a missionary area.
  • Prefect Apostolic (n): A cleric, often not a bishop, who governs a missionary territory (an apostolic prefecture) of lesser development than a vicariate apostolic.
Synonyms
  • Missionary Bishop
  • Titular Bishop (in this specific context of governing a mission territory)
Related Idioms/Phrases
  • (To serve) in an apostolic capacity: This phrase can describe the missionary, delegated authority characteristic of a Vicar Apostolic's role.
Noun
  1. a titular Roman Catholic bishop in a non-Catholic area