Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia, Turkiye

Continent: Central and Southwest Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Anatolia / Anatolien(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1845.03.13: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Trabzon / Trebisonda (Italiano) / Trapezuntina (Latin)
1896.09.12: Suppressed (to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir)
1931.06.20: Restored as Mission sui juris of Trabzon / Trebisonda (Italiano) / Trapezuntina (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinopole)
1990.11.30: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia / Anatolien(sis) (Latin) (gained territory from Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinopole)

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2015.08.14 – ...):	Bishop Paolo Bizzeti, S.J. (77) Titular Bishop of Tabæ
Auxiliary Bishop (2023.08.28 – ...):	Bishop Antuan Ilgit, S.J. (52) Titular Bishop of Tubernuca

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Anatolia (Roman Rite)

Bishop Paolo Bizzeti, S.J. (77)
(2015.08.14 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia (Turkiye)
Titular Bishop of Tabæ

Semper ambulare cum Christo

Born:	1947.09.22 (Firenze, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1975.06.21
Consecrated Bishop:	2015.11.01

Titular Bishop of Tabæ (2015.08.14 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia (Turkiye) (2015.08.14 – ...)

Archbishop Ruggero Franceschini, O.F.M. Cap. (85)
(Apostolic Administrator 2010.06.12 – 2015.08.14)

Bishop Luigi Padovese, O.F.M. Cap.
(2004.10.11 – 2010.06.03)

In caritate veritas

Born:	1947.03.31 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1973.06.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.11.07
Died:	2010.06.03 († 63)

Titular Bishop of Monteverde (2004.10.11 – 2010.06.03)

Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia (Turkiye) (2004.10.11 – 2010.06.03)

President of Episcopal Conference of Turkiye (2007.10 – 2010.06.03)

Bishop Ruggero Franceschini, O.F.M. Cap. (85) (later Archbishop)
(1993.07.02 – 2004.10.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Izmir (Turkiye)

Ecce Mater tua

Born:	1939.09.01 (Saltino di Prignano sulla Secchia, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1963.08.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1993.10.03

Titular Bishop of Sicilibba (1993.07.02 – 2004.10.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia (Turkiye) (1993.07.02 – 2004.10.11)

President of Episcopal Conference of Turkiye (2001 – 2007.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Izmir (Turkiye) (2004.10.11 – 2015.11.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Anatolia (Turkiye) (2010.06.12 – 2015.08.14)

President of Episcopal Conference of Turkiye (2010.09 – 2015.04)

Ecclesiastical Superiors of Trabzon (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Giuseppe Germano Bernardini, O.F.M. Cap.
(Apostolic Administrator 1990.11.30 – 1993.07.02)

Archbishop Giuseppe Germano Bernardini, O.F.M. Cap.
(Apostolic Administrator 1983.01.22 – 1990.11.30)

Fr. Giuseppe Germano Bernardini, O.F.M. Cap. (later Archbishop)
(1966.12.19 – 1983.01.22)

Veni ad me

Born:	1928.09.27 (Verica, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1953.03.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1983.04.09
Died:	2023.12.03 (Reggio Emilia, Italy † 95)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Trabzon (Turkiye) (1966.12.19 – 1983.01.22)

Apostolic Administrator of Trabzon (Turkiye) (1983.01.22 – 1990.11.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Izmir (Turkiye) (1983.01.22 – 2004.10.11)

President of Episcopal Conference of Turkiye (1989 – 1992)

Apostolic Administrator of Anatolia (Turkiye) (1990.11.30 – 1993.07.02)

Fr. Michele Salardi da Novellara, O.F.M. Cap.
(1961 – 1966)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Trabzon (Turkiye) (1961 – 1966)

Fr. Prospero Germini da Ospitaletto, O.F.M. Cap.
(1955 – 1961)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Trabzon (Turkiye) (1955 – 1961)

Fr. Giovanni Giannetti da Fivizzano, O.F.M. Cap.
(1933.03.09 – 1955)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Trabzon (Turkiye) (1933.03.09 – 1955)

Fr. Michele da Capodistria, O.F.M. Cap.
(1931.06.20 – 1933.03.09)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Trabzon (Turkiye) (1931.06.20 – 1933.03.09)

Prefects Apostolic of Trabzon (Roman Rite)

Fr. Eugenio da Modica, O.F.M. Cap.
(1881 – 1896.09.12)

Prefect Apostolic of Trabzon (Turkiye) (1881 – 1896.09.12)

Fr. Filippo Maria da Bologna, O.F.M. Cap.
(1852 – 1881)

Prefect Apostolic of Trabzon (Turkiye) (1852 – 1881)

Fr. Damiano da Viareggio, O.F.M. Cap.
(1845 – 1852)

Prefect Apostolic of Trabzon (Turkiye) (1845 – 1852)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of the Annunciation, İskenderun
Co-Cathedral: Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, Mersin

Izmir (←), Istanbul (↖), Caucasus (↗), Tehran–Isfahan (→), Aleppo (↘), Jerusalem (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Population: 2,750 Catholics

Pastoral Centres: 6 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 9 priests (2 diocesan, 7 religious), 13 religious (7 brothers, 6 sisters), 2 seminarians