Apostolic Vicariate of

Northern Arabia

Kuwait , Bahrain , Qatar , Saudi Arabia

Continent: Central and Southwest Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Northern Arabia (English) / Arabia del Nord (français) / Arabiæ Settentrionale (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Our Lady of Arabia (2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time)

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1953.06.29: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Kuwait / Kuvaiten(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia)
1954.12.02: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Kuwait / Kuvaiten(sis) (Latin)
2011.05.31: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (English) / Arabia del Nord (français) / Arabiæ Settentrionale (Latin) (gained territory from Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia)

Papal Visits

Pope Francis (2022.11)

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2023.01.28 – ...):

Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T. (61)

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Northern Arabia (Roman Rite)

Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T. (61)
(2023.01.28 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia (Kuwait)

Resurrexit sicut dixit

Born:	1963.09.30 (Longeville-les-Metz, France)
Ordained Priest:	1991.07.20
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.03.18

Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia (Kuwait) (2023.01.28 – ...)

Bishop Paul Hinder, O.F.M. Cap. (82)
(Apostolic Administrator 2020.05.13 – 2023.01.28)

Bishop Camillo Ballin, M.C.C.J.
(2011.05.31 – 2020.04.12)

Born:	1944.06.24 (Padova, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1969.03.30
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.09.02
Died:	2020.04.12 (Roma, Italy † 75)

Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait (Kuwait) (2005.07.14 – 2011.05.31)

Titular Bishop of Arna (2005.07.14 – 2020.04.12)

Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia (Kuwait) (2011.05.31 – 2020.04.12)

Vicars Apostolic of Kuwait (Roman Rite)

Bishop Camillo Ballin, M.C.C.J.
(2005.07.14 – 2011.05.31)

(see above)

Bishop Francis George Adeodatus Micallef, O.C.D.
(1981.11.05 – 2005.07.14)

Magnus Deus noster

Born:	1928.12.17 (Birkirkara, Malta)
Ordained Priest:	1954.05.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.01.06
Died:	2018.01.03 (Birkirkara, Malta † 89)

Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait (Kuwait) (1981.11.05 – 2005.07.14)

Titular Bishop of Tinisa in Proconsulari (1981.11.05 – 2018.01.03)

Bishop Victor León Esteban San Miguel y Erce, O.C.D.
(1976.05.31 – 1981.11.05)

Born:	1904.04.21 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1928.06.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.07.16
Died:	1995.04.04 († 90)

Apostolic Administrator of Kuwait (Kuwait) (1966.03.17 – 1976.05.31)

Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait (Kuwait) (1976.05.31 – 1981.11.05)

Titular Bishop of Rusubbicari (1976.05.31 – 1995.04.04)

Fr. Victor León Esteban San Miguel y Erce, O.C.D. (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1966.03.17 – 1976.05.31)

Bishop Ubaldo Teofano Stella, O.C.D.
(1954.12.02 – 1966.03)

Born:	1910.07.14 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1932.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1955.10.03
Died:	1978.11.09 († 68)

Prefect Apostolic of Kuwait (Kuwait) (1953.06.29 – 1954.12.02)

Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait (Kuwait) (1954.12.02 – 1966.03)

Titular Bishop of Antæopolis (1955.06.04 – 1978.11.09)

Prefects Apostolic of Kuwait (Roman Rite)

Fr. Ubaldo Teofano Stella, O.C.D. (later Bishop)
(1953.06.29 – 1954.12.02)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Awali, Bahrain
Co-Cathedral: Co-Cathedral of the Holy Family, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (7)

Jerusalem (←), Baghdad (↖), Tehran–Isfahan (↗), Southern Arabia (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,179,890 km²

Population: 2,727,900 Catholics (6.9% of 39,648,650 total)

Pastoral Centres: 11 parishes

Personnel: 58 priests (14 diocesan, 44 religious), 61 religious (44 brothers, 17 sisters)

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.02.07

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