Military ordinariate

A military ordinariate is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

, of Latin or Eastern Rite, responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics serving in the armed forces

Military

A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...

 of a nation.

Until 1986, they were called "military vicariates" and had a status similar to that apostolic vicariate

Apostolic vicariate

An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...

s, which are headed by a bishop who receives his authority by delegation from the Pope. The apostolic constitution

Apostolic constitution

An apostolic constitution is the highest level of decree issued by the Pope. The use of the term constitution comes from Latin constitutio, which referred to any important law issued by the Roman emperor, and is retained in church documents because of the inheritance that the canon law of the...

 Spirituali militum curae of 21 April 1986 raised their status, declaring that the bishop who heads one of them is an "ordinary", holding authority by virtue of his office, and not by delegation from another person in authority. It likened the military vicariates to diocese

Diocese

A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...

s. Each of them is headed by a bishop

Bishop

A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

, who may have the personal rank of archbishop

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...

. If the bishop is a diocesan rather than a titular bishop

Titular bishop

A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...

, he is likely to delegate the daily functions to an auxiliary bishop

Auxiliary bishop

An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...

 or a lower cleric.

Some nations have military ordinariates of the Anglican Communion

Anglican Communion

The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...

, Lutheranism

Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...

 and Eastern Orthodoxy.

The personal ordinariate

Personal Ordinariate

A personal ordinariate is a canonical structure within the Catholic Church enabling former Anglicans to maintain some degree of corporate identity and autonomy with regard to the bishops of the geographical dioceses of the Catholic Church and to preserve elements of their distinctive Anglican...

s for Anglicans entering the Catholic Church announced on 20 October 2009 are similar in some ways to the existing military ordinariates. But the jurisdiction of military ordinariates is cumulative to that of the diocesan bishops.

List of Roman Catholic military ordinariates

Country	Military Ordinariate	Notes
Africa
Kenya	Military Ordinariate of Kenya Military Ordinariate of Kenya The Military Ordinariate of Kenya is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Kenyan Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate and first military vicar appointment 20 January 1964; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
South Africa	Military Ordinariate of South Africa Military Ordinariate of South Africa The Military Ordinariate of South Africa is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the South African National Defence Force and their families....	created military vicariate and first military vicar appointment 17 May 1951; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986; it is vested in the Archbishop of Pretoria
Uganda	Military Ordinariate of Uganda Military Ordinariate of Uganda The Military Ordinariate of Uganda is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in Uganda People's Defence Force and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate and first military vicar appointment 20 January 1964; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986; vested in a Metropolitan
Americas
Argentina	Military Bishopric of Argentina Military Bishopric of Argentina The Military Bishopric of Argentina is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Armed Forces, National Gendarmerie and Naval Prefecture of Argentina....	created military vicariate 8 July 1957; first military vicar appointment in 1957; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Bolivia	Military Bishopric of Bolivia Military Bishopric of Bolivia The Military Bishopric of Bolivia is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Bolivian Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 19 March 1961; first appointment military vicar 26 July 1961; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Brazil	Military Ordinariate of Brazil Military Ordinariate of Brazil The Military Ordinariate of Brazil is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Brazilian Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate and first military vicar appointment 6 November 1950; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Canada	Military Ordinariate of Canada Military Ordinariate of Canada The Military Ordinariate of Canada is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Canadian Forces and their families.-History:...	first military bishop appointment 20 September 1939; created military vicariate 17 February 1951; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Chile	Military Bishopric of Chile Military Bishopric of Chile The Military Bishopric of Chile is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Chilean Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 3 May 1910; first military vicar appointment 27 May 1910; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Colombia	Military Bishopric of Colombia Military Bishopric of Colombia The Military Bishopric of Colombia is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Colombian Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 13 October 1949; first military vicar appointment 14 July 1950; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
	Military Bishopric of Dominican Republic Military Bishopric of Dominican Republic The Military Bishopric of Dominican Republic is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Dominican Republic Armed Forces and their families....	created military vicariate 23 January 1958; first military vicar appointment 1958; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Ecuador	Military Bishopric of Ecuador Military Bishopric of Ecuador The Military Bishopric of Ecuador is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Ecuadorian Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 30 March 1983; first military vicar appointment 5 August 1983; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
El Salvador	Military Bishopric in El Salvador Military Bishopric in El Salvador The Military Bishopric in El Salvador is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Armed Forces of El Salvador and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 25 March 1968; first military vicar appointment 4 November 1968; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Paraguay	Military Bishopric of Paraguay Military Bishopric of Paraguay The Military Bishopric of Paraguay is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Paraguayan Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 20 December 1961; first military vicar appointment 7 December 1965; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Peru	Military Bishopric of Peru Military Bishopric of Peru The Military Bishopric of Peru is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Peruvian Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 15 May 1943; first military vicar appointment 13 January 1945; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
United States	Archdiocese for the United States Military Services	first military bishop appointment 24 November 1917; created military vicariate in November 1939; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986; headed by an Archbishop with three Auxiliary Bishops
Venezuela	Military Ordinariate of Venezuela Military Ordinariate of Venezuela The Military Ordinariate of Venezuela is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Venezuelan Armed Forces and their families.-Military ordinaries:...	created military ordinariate 31 October 1995; first military ordinary appointment 11 February 1996
Asia
Indonesia	Military Ordinariate of Indonesia Military Ordinariate of Indonesia The Military Ordinariate of Indonesia is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Indonesian National Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 25 December 1949; first military vicar appointment 1949; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Philippines	Military Ordinariate of the Philippines Military Ordinariate of the Philippines The Military Ordinariate of the Philippines or MOP is a personal diocese for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Coast Guard. It has jurisdiction over all military, police and coast guard personnel, their dependents, and the civilian employees of all...	created military vicariate 8 December 1950; first military vicar appointment 10 December 1951; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
South Korea	Military Ordinariate of South Korea Military Ordinariate of South Korea The Military Ordinariate of South Korea is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the South Korean Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate and first military vicar appointment 22 November 1983; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Europe
Austria	Military Ordinariate of Austria Military Ordinariate of Austria The Military Ordinariate of Austria is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church.Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Austrian Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	first military bishop appointment in 1773; created military vicariate 21 February 1959; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Military Ordinariate of Bosnia and Herzegovina Military Ordinariate of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Military Ordinariate of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and their families....	created military vicariate 1 February 2011
Belgium	Military Ordinariate of Belgium Military Ordinariate of Belgium The Military Ordinariate of Belgium is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Belgian Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 7 September 1957; first military vicar appointment in 1957; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986; vested in the Archbishop of Mechelen and Primate of Belgium
Independent State of Croatia	Military Ordinariate of Croatia Military Ordinariate of Croatia The Military Ordinariate of Croatia is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Croatian Armed Forces and their families.-References:...	created military ordinariate and first military ordinary appointment 25 April 1997
Early Modern France	Diocese of the French Armed Forces Diocese of the French Armed Forces The Diocese of the French Armed Forces is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the French Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	first military bishop appointment in 1949; created military vicariate 26 July 1952; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Germany	Military Ordinariate of Germany Military Ordinariate of Germany The Military Ordinariate of Germany is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the German Armed Forces and their families....	first military bishop appointment 22 May 1868; created military vicariate 20 July 1933; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Hungary	Military Ordinariate of Hungary Military Ordinariate of Hungary The Military Bishopric of Hungary is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Hungarian Home Defence Force and their families.-History:...	first military bishop appointment 23 March 1920; in abeyance from 1947 to 1994; created a military ordinariate 18 April 1994
Italy	Military Ordinariate in Italy Military Ordinariate in Italy The Military Ordinariate in Italy is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Italian Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 6 March 1925; first military vicar appointment 23 April 1929; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Lithuania	Military Ordinariate of Lithuania Military Ordinariate of Lithuania The Military Ordinariate of Lithuania is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Lithuanian Armed Forces and their families.-Military ordinaries:...	created military ordinariate and first military vicar appointment 25 November 2000
Netherlands	Military Ordinariate of the Netherlands Military Ordinariate of the Netherlands The Military Ordinariate of the Netherlands is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Dutch Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate and first military vicar appointment 16 April 1957; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Poland	Military Ordinariate of Poland Military Ordinariate of Poland The Military Ordinariate of Poland is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Polish Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate and first military vicar appointment 5 February 1919; suspended from 1947 to 1991; elevated to a military ordinariate 1991
Portugal	Military Ordinariate of Portugal Military Ordinariate of Portugal The Military Ordinariate of Portugal is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Portuguese Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate 29 May 1966; first military vicar appointment 1966; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Slovakia	Military Ordinariate of Slovakia Military Ordinariate of Slovakia The Military Ordinariate of Slovakia is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Slovakian Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	created military ordinariate and first military vicar appointment 20 January 2003
Spain	Military Archbishopric of Spain Military Archbishopric of Spain The Military Archbishopric of Spain is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Spanish Armed Forces and their families.-History:...	first appointment military bishop 4 June 1819; created military vicariate 5 August 1950; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986; headed by an archbishop
United Kingdom	Bishopric of the Forces Bishopric of the Forces The Bishopric of the Forces is the Latin-rite Catholic military ordinariate which provides chaplains to the British Armed Forces across the United Kingdom and overseas. The chaplains are drawn from the dioceses of England, Wales and Scotland, and from some religious orders...	first military bishop appointment 30 October 1917; created military vicariate 21 November 1953; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
Oceania
Australia	Catholic Diocese of the Australian Defence Force Catholic Diocese of the Australian Defence Force The Roman Catholic Diocese of the Australian Defence Force is a Latin Rite suffragan Military Ordinariate, immediately subject to the Holy See, established in 1969, and managed for administrative purposes by the Archdiocese of Sydney.Its Ordinary and his chaplains...	first military bishop appointment in 1912; created military vicariate 6 March 1969; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986
New Zealand	Military Ordinariate of New Zealand Military Ordinariate of New Zealand The Military Ordinariate of New Zealand is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the New Zealand Defence Force and their families.-History:...	created military vicariate and first military vicar appointment 28 October 1976; elevated to a military ordinariate 21 July 1986; currently vested in the Metropolitan of Wellington

See also

• Patron saints of the military
• List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical)
• List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view)
• List of Roman Catholic archdioceses
• List of Roman Catholic apostolic administrations
  Apostolic Administrator
  An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
  
  
• List of Roman Catholic apostolic vicariates
  Apostolic vicariate
  An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
  
  
• List of Eastern Catholic exarchates
• List of Roman Catholic apostolic prefectures
  Apostolic prefect
  An apostolic prefect is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a missionary area where the Catholic Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have it made a diocese....
  
  
• List of Roman Catholic territorial prelatures
  Territorial Prelate
  A territorial prelate is, in Catholic usage, a prelate whose geographic jurisdiction, called territorial prelature, does not belong to any diocese and is considered a particular church....
  
  
• List of Roman Catholic missions sui juris
  Mission sui iuris
  A mission sui iuris, or in Latin missio sui iuris, also known as an independent mission, is a rare type of Roman Catholic missionary pseudo-diocesan jurisdiction in an area with very few Catholics, often desolate or remote....
  
  

External links

• Military Ordinariates in the world by Giga-Catholic Information
• Catholic Hierarchy.org