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Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia del Nord

Arabiae Septentrionalis

Latin rite apostolic vicariate with jurisdiction over Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, created in 2011 and serving a largely migrant Catholic population. Its seat is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Bahrain, built on land donated by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T. was ordained and installed there on 18 March 2023.

The see

Rank
Apostolic vicariate
Tradition
Latin Church
Erected
31 May 2011
Latin
Arabiae Septentrionalis
Patron
Our Lady of Arabia
Annuario code
001000381

The see in figures

Catholics
2,722,000
Population
43,463,583
Catholic shareof the people living within its bounds
6.3%
Priests
54
Catholics per priest
50,407
Extent
2,179,846 km²
Catholics per km²
1.2

Figures as recorded in the register, from the Annuario Pontificio and the see's own published statements. Shares and ratios are computed from the two figures shown beside them.

The bishop

Vicar Apostolic
Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T.

A see whose chair stands empty is recorded as vacant rather than filled with a guess. On what a bishop is, see the bishop.

The cathedral

Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Awali stands in Arabia del Nord, the church that holds the cathedra from which this see takes its name.

On what a cathedral is, see the cathedral; every see church on earth is gathered at the cathedrals.

History

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia together form the territory of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Arabiæ Septentrionalis; Arabic: النيابة الرسولية العربية الشمالية). First established in 1953 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Kuwait, the vicariate took its current name in 2011. Bishop Aldo Berardi OSsT serves as its vicar apostolic.

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Sources

The see's own website · Wikipedia

Compiled from the published statements of the see and the references of the Holy See, among them the Annuario Pontificio. Corrections: hello@catholicintelligence.com.