Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia

Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia
Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia
Catholic
	Incumbent:; Aldo Berardi, OSsT; Ordained on 18 March 2023
Information
First holder	Camillo Ballin MCCJ
Established	2011
Cathedral	Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Bahrain
Co-cathedral	Holy Family Co-Cathedral, Kuwait

Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia

*Apostolicus Vicariatus Arabiae Septentrionalis*

النيابة الرسولية العربية الشمالية
Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia; Apostolicus Vicariatus Arabiae Septentrionalis; النيابة الرسولية العربية الشمالية
Location
Country	Kuwait; Bahrain; Qatar; Saudi Arabia
Statistics
Area	2,179,846 km2 (841,643 sq mi)
Population; - Total; - Catholics	(as of 2020); 43,463,583; 2,722,000 (6.3%)
Churches	11
Information
Denomination	Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite, Maronite, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Coptic Catholic
Established	29 June 1953 (As Prefecture Apostolic of Kuwait); 2 December 1954 (As Apostolic Vicariate of Kuwait); 31 May 2011 (As Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia)
Cathedral	Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Bahrain
Co-cathedral	Holy Family Co-Cathedral, Kuwait
Patroness	Our Lady of Arabia
Secular priests	54
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Apostolic Vicar	Aldo Berardi OSsT
Map
Website
	Website of the Apostolic Vicariate

The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Arabiæ Septentrionalis) (Arabic: النيابة الرسولية العربية الشمالية) is an apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church with territorial jurisdiction for Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The vicar apostolic of the vicariate is Bishop Aldo Berardi OSsT.^[2] It was first established in 1953 (as the Apostolic Prefecture of Kuwait) and took its current name in 2011.

The apostolic vicariate is led by a vicar apostolic, who is usually a titular bishop. While such a territory can be classed as a particular Church, according to canon 371.1 of the Latin Code of Canon Law, a vicar apostolic's jurisdiction is an exercise of the jurisdiction of the Pope – the territory comes directly under the Pope as "universal bishop", and the vicariate come directly under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Rome, where the pope exercises this authority through a "vicar".^[3] This is unlike the jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop, whose jurisdiction derives directly from his office.

The see of the apostolic vicar is in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Bahrain, with a co-cathedral, the Holy Family Co-Cathedral, located in Kuwait City which was the former seat of the vicariate.

Statistics

The vicariate serves the peninsular Arabian countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, but there are no churches on Saudi territory. As of 2020, it serves a Catholic population of 2,722,000, which is approximately 6.3% of the total population of the region (43,463,583).

The vicariate comprises 11 parishes and has 54 priests, including 11 diocesan and 43 religious priests. Additionally, there are 1 deacon, 44 brothers, 18 sisters, 1 seminarian, and 61 lay religious who support the vicariate.^[4]

History

The apostolic vicariate was established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Kuwait in June 1953, on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia. It was promoted on 2 December 1954, as the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuwait, entitled to a titular bishop. It was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia on 31 May 2011, having gained additional territory from the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia, which was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.

In January 2011, Pope Benedict XVI through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments declared the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Arabia patroness of the Northern Vicariate (feast on the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time).

In August 2012, the headquarters of the vicariate was transferred from Kuwait to Bahrain, which is in the centre of the vicariate since it had a more permissive visa policy.^[5]

Leadership

Apostolic Prefect of Kuwait

Ubaldo Teofano Stella, OCD (29 June 1953 – 2 December 1954 see below)

Apostolic Vicars of Kuwait

Ubaldo Teofano Stella, OCD (born Italy) (see above 2 December 1954 – retired March 1966), Titular Bishop of Antæopolis (1955.06.04 – death 1978.11.09)
Victor León Esteban San Miguel y Erce, OCD (born Spain) (31 May 1976 – retired 5 November 1981), Titular Bishop of Rusubbicari (1976.05.31 – death 1995.04.04); initially as Apostolic Administrator 1966.03.17 – 1976.05.31
Francis George Adeodatus Micallef, OCD (born Malta) (5 November 1981 – retired 14 July 2005), Titular Bishop of Tinisa in Proconsulari (1981.11.05 – death 2018.01.03)
Camillo Ballin, Combonian Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCI) (born Italy) (14 July 2005 – 31 May 2011 see below), Titular Bishop of Arna (2005.07.14 – 2011.05.31)

Apostolic Vicars of Northern Arabia

Camillo Ballin, MCCI (see above 31 May 2011 – death 12 April 2020)
Aldo Berardi, OSsT (born France) (18 March 2023–present )

Apostolic Administrators

Victor León Esteban San Miguel y Erce OCD (born Spain) (see above 1966.03.17 – 1976.05.31)
Paul Hinder, OFMCap (born Switzerland) (13 May 2020 – 18 March 2023) Titular Bishop of Macon, Emeritus Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia