Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan

The Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan is a Roman Catholic Apostolic Prefecture (missionary jurisdiction) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. It is exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province. It has one church and four chapels situated in Baku, including the pro-cathedral episcopal see Church of the Immaculate Conception. The juristical status is ensured by the local law of the Azerbaijan Republic and is having a special status thanks to the Concordat signed by Pope John Paul II. and former president Heydar Aliyev.

Church of the Immaculate Conception in Baku, Azerbaijan
Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan

Praefectura Apostolica Azerbaigianiensis

Azərbaycan Həvari Prefekti
Coat of arms of Prefecture
Location
Country Azerbaijan
Statistics
Area86,600 km2 (33,400 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)		(as of 2017)
9,800,000
580 (0%)
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteLatin Rite
Established4 August 2011
CathedralChurch of the Immaculate Conception
Patron saintBartholomew the Apostle
Current leadership
Apostolic PrefectBishop Vladimir Fekete, S.D.B.[1]
Website
Website of the Prefecture

History

It was established on 11 October 2000 as Mission sui iuris of Baku, on territory split from the Apostolic Administration of the Caucasus. In May 2002 it enjoyed a papal visit by John Paul II and in October 2016 by Pope Francis.[2][3] On 4 August 2011, it was promoted as Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan.[4] As of 2015, the estimated total population in the prefecture is 9,867,250 and 560 are members of the Catholic Church.[5]

Coat of arms

The proposal of coat of arms created by Marek Sobola, a heraldic artist from Slovakia in November 2017.[6]

Incumbents

So far, there are three Monastic Orders: Salesians of Don Bosco (S.D.B.), Missionaries of Charity (C.M) (also known as Sisters of Mother Theresa) and Salesian Sisters (F.M.A.). There is no diocesan priest and only seven of the Salesian community are Catholic priests.

  • Friar Jozef Daniel Pravda, S.D.B. (11. 10. 2000 – 18. 7. 2003)[7]
  • Friar Ján Čapla, S.D.B. (18. 7. 2003 – 11. 05. 2009)[8]
  • Friar Vladimir Fekete, S.D.B. (11. 05. 2009 – 04. 08. 2011)[9]
Apostolic Prefects of Azerbaijan
  • Bishop Vladimir Fekete, S.D.B. (04. 08. 2011 – present; named a bishop, by Pope Francis, while remaining Apostolic Prefect of Azerbaijan, on 12. 08. 2017; consecrated on 11 February 2018)[9]

See also
  • Roman Catholicism in Azerbaijan

References
  1. http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2017/12/08/0880/01886.html
  2. Yardley, Jim (2016-10-02). "Pope Francis Notes Azerbaijan's Religious Tolerance, Not Rights Abuses". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  3. "Pope Francis meets President of Azerbaijan". Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  4. Cheney, David M. "Azerbaijan (Prefecture Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  5. "L'Annuario Pontificio 2016 e l'«Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae» 2014". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  6. Sobola, Marek. "Azərbaycan Həvari Prefekti". sobola.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  7. Cheney, David M. "Father Jozef Daniel Pravda [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  8. Cheney, David M. "Father Ján Čapla [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  9. Cheney, David M. "Father Vladimír Fekete [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
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