VICARIO DELEGATO. — Apostolic vicars, by the nature of their ecclesiastical jurisdiction,
did not have the power to appoint a vicar general for themselves, as diocesan bishops did.
Before the CIC, Benedict XIV, by means of the constitution Ex sublimi of 26 January 1753, had granted the apostolic vicars of the Indies who did not have a coadjutor with right of future succession the faculty of appointing a vicar general who, in the event of the vacancy of the see, would assume its government with the jurisdiction and faculties determined in the same constitution. The same Supreme Pontiff, by the constitution Quam ex sublimi of 8 August 1755, extended the above-mentioned faculty to all apostolic vicars (cf. Collectanea S. Congr. de Prop. Fide, Rome 1907, nos. 387 and 396). This vicar general, however, corresponded rather to the pro-vicar mentioned in can. 309 of the CIC.
Even after the publication of the CIC, neither apostolic vicars nor apostolic prefects were granted the faculty of appointing a vicar general sede plena (cf. can. 294). The view prevailed that the kind of jurisdiction—ordinary but vicarious—did not permit such a faculty, which was moreover excluded by can. 198 § 1. It was perhaps thought that such an office was unnecessary because apostolic vicars and prefects could delegate very broad faculties directly to the missionaries. Indeed, by virtue of can. 199, Ordinaries may delegate their ordinary jurisdiction both in particular cases and for all cases. The faculty of delegating in a general and permanent manner had already been recognized by the S. Congr. de Prop. Fide on 9 December 1822 (Collectanea S. Congr. de Prop. Fide, no. 777). But this delegate could not be called a vicar general.
The new organization of missionary activity made an office similar to that of the vicar general necessary also for apostolic vicariates and prefectures. By a letter of the S. Congr. de Prop. Fide dated 8 December 1919, Benedict XV, after having healed the nullity of the acts of jurisdiction performed by those missionaries who had perhaps acted as vicars general, granted « Ordinariis missionum potestatem nominandi vicarium delegatum si eo indigent, cui practice concessa sit omnia iurisdictio in spiritualibus et temporalibus, qua ex CIC, uti potest vicarius generalis in diocesi » (Sylloge S. Congr. de Prop. Fide, Rome 1939, no. 76).
Regarding the number and office of the V. d. in each mission, the prescriptions of the CIC apply (can. 366 ff.). The same faculty was also granted to the ecclesiastical superiors of autonomous or sui iuris missions (Sylloge S. Congr. de Prop. Fide, no. 146). The following names were proposed for the vicars granted to the ordinaries of quasi-dioceses: V. d. for apostolic vicars, delegated prefect for apostolic prefects, and delegated superior for the ecclesiastical superiors of autonomous missions. The common title of V. d. for all of them subsequently prevailed.
Immediately after the publication of the 1919 letter, discussion began as to whether the V. d. possessed delegated or ordinary power. In a letter of 16 November 1937, the S. Congr. of Propaganda declared this power to be ordinary; consequently, the rights and obligations of the V. vicar general. The V. d., however, does not enjoy the honorary privileges of a titular apostolic protonotary (can. 370 § 2), because the instructions and replies of Propaganda never refer back to the cited canon, nor have they expressly granted the privileges in question. He does, on the other hand, enjoy the right of precedence; and, contrary to can. 309 § 2, he is entitled to govern the quasi-diocese when the see is impeded, in accordance with can. 429 § 1. Generally, there is only one V. d. in each quasi-diocese, but by immemorial custom or apostolic indult there may be two or more V. d. for different regions (can. 366 § 3).