Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia
| Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia Apostolicus Vicariatus Arabiae Septentrionalis النيابة الرسولية العربية الشمالية | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country |
Kuwait Bahrain Qatar Saudi Arabia |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 17,900 km2 (6,900 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2014) 36,252,722 2,445,000 (6.7%) |
| Parishes | 4 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| 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 | Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Apostolic Vicar | Camillo Ballin |
| Emeritus Bishops | Francis George Adeodatus Micallef Vicar Apostolic Emeritus (1982-2005) |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| Website of the Apostolic Vicariate | |
The Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Arabia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Arabiæ Septentrionalis Arabic: القاصد الرسولي في شمال المملكة العربية) is a Catholic vicariate apostolic located in Bahrain. It covers the countries of: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, although there are no churches in Saudi Arabia. The superior of the vicariate is the Italian Bishop Camillo Ballin MCCJ.
History
Formerly part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia, in 1953 the vicariate was established with the name of the Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait. In 2011, some additional territory of the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia was transferred to this jurisdiction and both vicariates were renamed.
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.
In August 2012, it was decided to transfer the headquarters of the vicariate from Kuwait to Bahrain because Bahrain is closer to Saudi Arabia, where most of the vicariate's laypeople live. Another reason for the transfer was that Bahrain had a more lenient visa policy.[1]
Episcopal ordinaries
(all Roman Rite)
Vicars Apostolic of Northern Arabia
- Ubaldo Teofano Stella, OCD (29 June 1953 – 4 June 1955)
- Victor León Esteban San Miguel y Erce, OCD (31 May 1976 – 5 November 1981)
- Francis George Adeodatus Micallef, OCD (5 November 1981 – 14 July 2005)
- Camillo Ballin, MCCI (14 July 2005 – )
Coat of arms
The proposal of coat of arms created Marek Sobola, a heraldic specialist from Slovakia. The colors of the new coat of arms are derived from the national colors of the states, which are incorporated into the Vicariate - Bahrain (red), Kuwait (black), Qatar (violet), and Saudi Arabia (green). The letter "M" is the symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Arabia patroness of the Northern Vicariate.
See also
- Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Arabia
- Roman Catholicism in Bahrain
- Roman Catholicism in Kuwait
- Roman Catholicism in Saudi Arabia
- Roman Catholicism in Qatar