Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan

Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan Praefectura Apostolica Azerbaigianiensis Azərbaycan Həvari Prefekti
Coat of arms of Prefecture
Location
Country	Azerbaijan
Statistics
Area	86,600 km2 (33,400 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2017) 9,800,000 580 (0%)
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	4 August 2011
Cathedral	Church of the Immaculate Conception
Current leadership
Apostolic Prefect	Bishop Vladimir Fekete, S.D.B. [1]
Website
Website of the Prefecture

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 its pro-cathedral the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Its legal status is ensured by the local law of the Azerbaijan Republic and has 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

History

It was established on 11 October 2000 as Mission sui iuris of Baku, on territory split from the Apostolic Administration of the Caucasus. On 4 August 2011, it was promoted as Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan. ^[2]

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 Teresa) 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) ^[3]
• Friar Ján Čapla, S.D.B. (18. 7. 2003 – 11. 05. 2009) ^[4]
• Friar Vladimir Fekete, S.D.B. (11. 05. 2009 – 04. 08. 2011) ^[5]

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) ^[5]

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Azerbaijan

Source and External links

• GigaCatholic, with incumbent biography links

References

1. "Rinunce e nomine".
2. Cheney, David M. "Azerbaijan (Prefecture Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
3. Cheney, David M. "Father Jozef Daniel Pravda [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
4. Cheney, David M. "Father Ján Čapla [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
5. Cheney, David M. "Father Vladimír Fekete [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2017-11-29.