The Apostolic Vicariate extends its jurisdiction over the Catholics of the Latin Rite of all Syria, as per 2014 pastorally serving 13,000 Catholics in 10 parishes and 6 missions with 38 priests (religious) and 243 lay religious (46 brothers, 197 sisters).
A first attempt to build an apostolic vicariate (pre-diocesan mission under a titular bishop) was in 1645. On 31 July 1645 was appointed bishop the Franciscan Giovanni Battista Dovara, which, however, "that he had achieved such a dignity, otherwise do not bother to go to his residence, despite the replicated excitations that he was moved by the Holy Congregation. Nor from that time on he was thought to depute a Latin bishop in that city".[3]:300 The vicariate so he died in the bud: the jurisdiction of the Latin returned to the Custodian of the Holy Land (traditionally a Franciscan), as it was previously.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo was erected properly (the 'second' time) on 27 June 1762, when Pope Clement XIII appointed the Congregation of the Mission member Frenchman Arnaud Bossu, who had been Apostolic Vicar of Algiers. In a Papal brief,[4] Bossu receives the title of Vicar Apostolic of Aleppo, with jurisdiction over the Eastern Europeans and the Latin Rite of the patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem, including the Maronite and Armenian patriarchates. The vicar, however, did not put his residence in Aleppo, but at Antoura in Lebanon, and never received episcopal consecration. Also on this occasion, the vicariate was short-lived due to the Suppression of the Jesuit Order in 1773 and the French Revolution, which, among other consequences, involved the removal of all French religious orders not only in motherland, but also in mission lands.
On October 4, 1847, it ceded Palestine, Cyprus and the areas corresponding to (the current / (Trans)Jordan for the restoration of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
With the end of the Ottoman Empire, the birth of modern Turkey (1923) and especially with the passage of Hatay from Syria to Turkey (1938), under the Papal bull of Pope Pius XII Ad maius christifidelium of 5 October 1939 and Quo sacrorum of 9 December 1939, the Vicariate Apostolic of Aleppo lost the Turkish territories that passed to the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul.
On June 4, 1953, it gave another portion of territory for the creation of the Apostolic Vicariate of Beirut. From this moment the Vicariate Apostolic of Aleppo geographically corresponding to the Arab republic of Syria's territory. Only from this territorial change, the apostolic vicars have permanent residence in Aleppo, preferring previously reside in Lebanon.
Episcopal ordinaries
Until 2013, Europeans or members of missionary Latin congregations, mostly Franciscans, were ordinaries here. All have belonged to the Roman rite.
Giovanni Pietro Losana (23 January 1827 – 30 September 1833), later Bishop of Biella (?)
Jean-Baptiste Auvergne (March 29, 1833 – death September 14, 1836), Titular Archbishop of Iconium (1833.03.29 – 1836.09.14), also Apostolic Delegate to Egypt and Arabia (1833.03 – 1836.09.14) and Apostolic Delegate to Syria (1833.03 – 1836.09.14)
Angelo Giuseppe Fazio, Capuchin Franciscans (O.F.M. Cap.) (15 December 1837 – death 13 December 1838), Titular Bishop of Tipasa (1836.04.26 – 1838.12.13) (coadjutor of Tibet-Hindustan, British India, 1836.04.26 – 1837.12.15); also Apostolic Delegate to Syria (1837.12.15 – 1838.12.13)
Apostolic Vicars of Aleppo
Villardel Francisco, O.F.M. (8 March 1839 – death 19 June 1852), Titular Archbishop of Philippi (1839.03.08 – 1852.06.19), also Apostolic Delegate to Syria (1839.03.08 – 1852.06.19)
Paul Brunoni (July 4, 1853 – November 23, 1858), Titular Archbishop of Tharona (1853.07.12 – 1868.06.25),? appointed Apostolic Vicar of Constantinople), later Latin Titular Patriarch of Antioch (1868.06.25 – 1877.01.02)
Giuseppe Valerga (1858 – death 2 December 1872 deceased) (apostolic administrator)
Serafino Milani, O.F.M. (23 January 1874 – 21 December 1874 appointed Bishop of Pontremoli) (bishop-elect)
Auxiliary Bishop Gaudenzio Bonfigli, O.F.M. (18 August 1890 – 25 February 1896), Titular Bishop of Casium (1881.08.19 – 1890.08.19), later Apostolic Delegate to Syria (1890.08.19 – 1896.02.25) and Titular Archbishop of Cabassa (1890.08.19 – 1904.04.06), Apostolic Delegate to Egypt and Arabia (1896.02.25 – 1904.04.06)
Pierre Gonzales Charles Duval, O.P. (February 25, 1896 – death July 31, 1904), Titular Archbishop of Petra (1895.11.29 – 1904.07.31), also Apostolic Delegate to Syria (1896.02.25 – 1904.07.31)
Apostolic administrator Akiki Bonaventure, O.F.M. (28 June 1967 – 1 March 1973), Titular Bishop of Larissa in Syria (1973.03.01 – death 1987.09.09), no previous prelature
Akiki Bonaventure, O.F.M. (1 March 1973 – 1979 Retired)
Guerino Domenico Picchi, O.F.M. (20 June 1980 – 9 July 1992 Retired), Titular Bishop of Sebaste in Palæstina (1980.06.20 – death 1997.07.19)
Giuseppe Nazzaro, O.F.M. (21 November 2002 – 15 April 2013 Retired), Titular Bishop of Forma (2002.11.21 – death 2015.10.26); previously Custos of the Holy Land (1992.04.10 [1992.05.08] – 1998.01.16)
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↑ Leonardus Lemmens, Hierarchia latina Orientis, mediante S. Congregatione de propaganda fide instituita (1622-1922), in Orientalia Christiana, vol. IV, n° 10 (1924), pp. 296-301
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