AUSTRALASIA

AUSTRALASIA. - By this term some geographers designate Indonesia or Insulindia (the Dutch Indies); others, however, the whole comprising Australia, the Malay Archipelago (the Philippines and Indonesia), and the islands of Oceania. Ecclesiastically, the term A. is applied to the Apostolic Delegation, established on 15 Apr. 1914 for Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and subsequently extended (20 May 1919) to the missions of insular Oceania and Malaysia, except (1921) the Apostolic Vicariate of the Marianas, Carolines, and Marshalls, annexed to the Apostolic Delegation of Japan; that of Sandwich or Hawaii, then annexed to the Delegation of the United States, since 1941 no longer a vicariate but the diocese of Honolulu, suffragan of S. Francisco; and that of Guam, transferred under the Delegation of the Philippines. By decree of the S. Congregazione di Propaganda Fide dated 8 June 1947, the Apostolic Delegation of the Indonesian Archipelago was established, with seat at Batavia, for the Dutch Indies, which were consequently removed from the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Delegation of A.; by another decree of the same date, the latter took the name of Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania. V. alle singole voci: AUSTRALIA, INDONESIA, OCEANIA.