Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar
The Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar (Latin: Praefectura Apostolica Ulaanbaatarensis) is a Roman Catholic Latin apostolic prefecture (pre-diocesan missionary jurisdiction) located in (Outer) Mongolia, with its territory consisting of the entire country.
Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar Praefectura Apostolica Ulaanbaatarensis Улаанбаатар хот дахь Элч нарын эрх мэдэлд суурилсан шашны засаг захиргаа | |
|---|---|
 Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, Ulaanbaatar | |
| Location | |
| Country | Mongolia |
| Metropolitan | Immediately subject to the Holy See |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 1,566,500 km2 (604,800 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2014) 3,227,000 919 (0.03%) |
| Parishes | 6 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, Ulaanbaatar |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Prefect Apostolic | Giorgio Marengo I.M.C. |
| Website | |
| Website of the Prefecture | |
Its cathedral episcopal see is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, in the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.
It is exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province.
On 28 August 2016, the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar celebrated the ordination of the first native Mongolian priest by Msgr. Wenceslao Padilla. Other seminarians are studying currently in South Korea.
History
- Established on March 14, 1922 as Mission “sui iuris” of Outer Mongolia (Chinese: 外蒙古自治傳教區), on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Central Mongolia (Chinese: 中蒙古代牧區)
- Renamed in 1924 as Mission sui iuris of Urga (or Ulanbator) (Chinese: 庫倫自治傳教區)
- Promoted on July 8, 2002 as Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar (Chinese: 乌兰巴托宗座监牧区), still not entitled to a titular bishop.
Statistics
As of 2014, the prefecture had 919 Catholics (0.0% of 3,227,000 total) on 1,564,120 km² in six parishes and a mission with 17 priests (14 religious and three diocesan), 61 in religious life (43 female, 18 male) and 2 seminarians.
Ordinaries
(all Roman rite, so far missionary members of Latin congregations, notably Scheutists)
- Ecclesiastical Superiors of Outer Mongolia
- Apostolic Administrator Girolamo van Aertselaer, C.I.C.M. 1922 – 1924), also Apostolic Vicar of the then Apostolic Vicariate of Chahaer 察哈爾 (China) & Titular Bishop of Zaraï (1898-05-07 – 1924-01-12)
- Ecclesiastical Superiors of Urga = Urgoo (or Ulaanbaatar)
- Apostolic Administrator Everardo Ter Laak, Scheutists (C.I.C.M.) (1924 – May 5, 1931), also Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Chahaer 察哈爾 (China) & Titular Bishop of Parœcopolis (1914-05-06 – 1931-05-05); previously Apostolic Vicar of Southern Kansu 甘肅南境 (China) (1906-06-21 – 1914-05-06) and Apostolic Vicar of Chahaer (China) (1924-01-12 – 1924-12-03); later Apostolic Vicar of Xiwanzi 西灣子 (China) (1924-12-03 – 1931-05-05)
- Fr. Wenceslao Selga Padilla, C.I.C.M. (April 19, 1992 – July 8, 2002; see below)
- Apostolic Prefects of Ulaanbaatar
- Wenceslao Selga Padilla, C.I.C.M. (see above; July 8, 2002 – September 25, 2018), Titular Bishop of Tharros (2003-08-02 – 2018-09-25)
- Giorgio Marengo, I.M.C. (April 2, 2020 – Present), concurrently as Titular Bishop of Castra Severiana
Sources and external links