VICARIO APOSTOLICO. — In the history of the Church the title of vicarius appears from the earliest centuries, together with that of missus or legatus, to designate the representative of the Roman Pontiff in the Councils of the East; at the same time it is also used to designate the permanent representative of the pope (Council of Sardica, a. 343, can. 20). The title of vicarius apostolicus appears towards the end of the 4th century, and from then on designates a residential bishop who, in addition to the ordinary powers inherent in the government of his diocese, is invested by the Roman Pontiff with special powers even over the other bishops of the region.
The first apostolic vicariate was that of Thessalonica. In 379 the imperial prefecture of Illyricum was divided into two parts: Eastern Illyricum, with its capital at Thessalonica, dependent on the emperor of the East, and Western Illyricum, with its capital at Sirmium, dependent on the emperor of the West. While until that time all Illyricum was subject to the patriarchal jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff, after the division mentioned the patriarchs of Constantinople began to exercise their jurisdiction over Eastern Illyricum. To prevent this usurpation, the Roman pontiffs constituted the metropolitan of Thessalonica as their V. The first v., named Ascolius (or Aconius), was probably appointed by Pope Damasus in 383. The following pontiffs continued to appoint a V. in Thessalonica; from the letter addressed in 412 by Pope Innocent to Rufus, the new v., the figure and functions of this office appear already perfectly defined. In 535, at the request of Justinian, the vicariate of Thessalonica was divided into two parts: the first remained subject to the ancient v., the second was subjected to the archbishop of Justiniana Prima, to whom the same privileges as the V. of Thessalonica were recognized. Meanwhile there arose in the West the vicariate of Arles in Gaul, those of Seville and Tarragona in Spain, to which were later added those of Metz (a. 844), Sens (a. 876), Salzburg (a. 973), Toledo (a. 1088), Lyons (a. 1097), Trier (a. 969 and a. 1137), etc., with which, however, the legations born (v. LEGATO) begin.
The powers proper to the V. a. were exercised in the name of the Roman pontiff, and although they were granted only to the holders of the designated sees, every new metropolitan
he had to obtain its confirmation. Such powers were very extensive, though they did not have identical scope in all cases, and practically included almost all the faculties that could be delegated by the Supreme Pontiff. The *V. a.* had in particular to inform the Roman Pontiff about the state of the Churches and the exact observance of the sacred canons, whose execution they were responsible for. Consequently, they had to be informed about the conduct of priests and bishops and had the right to visit churches. No bishop could be elected without their consultation: they indeed had to ensure the suitability of candidates for such dignity. It was the duty of the *V. a.* to consecrate metropolitans, to convene and preside over synods, to examine and report on appeals to the Roman See, to define major causes, and among these particularly those against bishops. The *V. a.* could also inflict penalties. With the disappearance in the 12th century of the ancient apostolic vicariates, or rather, with their transformation into legations, a new figure of *V. a.* arose, entirely different from the previous one. Until the 12th century, the care of a vacant diocese was assumed by the neighboring bishop or the metropolitan. 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VICARIUS APOSTOLICUS
Within the territory entrusted to their governance, vicars apostolic exercise, in the name of the Supreme Pontiff, all the powers proper to residential bishops. Their jurisdiction, being by law itself attached to the office, must be termed ordinary (canons 197-98), though vicarious, because it is not exercised by those invested with it in their own name, but in the name of the Pope.
Even if the superior of a mission entrusted to a religious order is appointed vicar apostolic, the office of the latter is always committed to the person, not to the office of superior (Collectanea S. Congregationis de Propaganda Fide, no. 463). According to the Code of Canon Law, if the vicar apostolic is invested with episcopal dignity, he enjoys all the honorary privileges of titular bishops; if he is not a bishop, he enjoys all the privileges of apostolic protonotaries *de numero participantium*, however within the limits of his territory and the duration of his office (canon 308). Today, however, all vicars apostolic are invested with the episcopal character. The vicar apostolic is bound to the *visitatio ad limina* (canon 299), to send every five years to the Holy See an accurate and complete report, according to a formula transmitted to him, on the state of his vicariate (canon 300); he is likewise obliged to attend provincial councils (canon 304), to apply the Mass *pro populo* (canon 306), to the law of residence (canon 301 § 1), to the visitation of his own territory (canon 301 § 2), and to the formation of indigenous clergy (canon 305). All missionary activity within the vicariate depends on the vicar apostolic, and with regard to such activity, religious are also subject to his jurisdiction and supervision (canon 296 § 1). In addition to ordinary power, the vicar apostolic possesses extensive delegated faculties, which in many cases may also be subdelegated.