APOSTOLIC PREFECT. - An apostolic prefecture is governed by a prelate who takes the name of apostolic prefect; he, together with the vicar apostolic and the superior of a mission sui iuris, constitutes the so-called missionary or extraordinary hierarchy, introduced by the S. Congr. of Prop. Fide for the mission countries.
The apostolic prefect seems to originate from the praefectus missionis of the missions of the regulars of the 13th-15th centuries. The first traces of an apostolic prefect go back at least to the year 1661; but both figures are found in the juridical collections of Propaganda Fide almost up to the CIC. It has not yet been ascertained how the transition from the praefectus missionis to the apostolic one came about, which was sometimes confused with the former, the change of name being attributed to the need to abbreviate (praefectus apostolicus instead of praefectus missionis apostolicus). In the preparatory schemata of the CIC and in the CIC itself the prefect is totally equated with the vicar apostolic. He is appointed by the S. Congr. de Prop. Fide in congress; he takes possession of the territory with the presentation of the decree or of the letters of the same S. Congregation to whoever governs the territory ad interim; the appointment is always ad nutum of the S. Congregation. In the past the nature of the jurisdiction of the apostolic prefect was much discussed; authors tended to recognize in him a delegated jurisdiction; today, with the prescriptions on the matter made by the CIC, it is certain that it is ordinary, because it is annexed to the office itself, and vicarious, because it is exercised not in his own name but in that of the Roman Pontiff. The prefect has in the territory entrusted to him the same rights and faculties as residential bishops. As regards the power of order, although it is not excluded that the apostolic prefect may be invested with the episcopal character, nevertheless it is common practice that he be a simple priest with a large participation in the power of order; he can give all the blessings reserved to bishops, with the exception of the pontifical blessing; consecrate chalices, patens and portable altars using the oil blessed by the bishop; grant indulgences of 50 days; administer Confirmation, tonsure and the minor Orders. This power of order is limited to the time in which he is in office and cannot be exercised outside the limits of his own territory. While he is in office and within his own territory, the honorary privileges of the protonotary apostolic participant of number belong to him; therefore he is considered a domestic prelate of His Holiness with the annexed title of monsignor. By special concession of the S. Congr. de Prop. Fide (Formola minore, n. 53) the apostolic prefects were authorized to make use of the honorary privileges also outside their own territory, provided that it be during their term of office; this concession was revoked by a notification of the same S. Congregation of 15 Aug. 1947 and n. 53 was abolished in the text of the formula minore of the faculties. In addition to the ordinary faculties which he enjoys by virtue of the same law, other delegated faculties are granted to the prefect according to a determined formula (v. QUINQUENNALI, FACOLTÀ). The obligations of the apostolic prefect are substantially the same as those of the vicar apostolic (v.): quinquennial report to the Holy See on the state of the mission, annual statistical report on the movement of conversions; obligation of residence in the region, of the canonical visitation of the prefecture, although the time within which this duty must be fulfilled is not prescribed. He is bound to observe the prescriptions on the constitution of the archive of the mission; he must apply ex iustitia the Mass for his people on the days established in can. 306. A special obligation rests on the prefect, in the mission territories, to establish the native clergy. He is not bound, by common law, to make the ad limina visit nor to celebrate a Synod, but he may be so bound by virtue of a particular law (e.g., in China).