Military ordinariate

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A military ordinariate is an ecclesiastical unit responsible for the pastoral care of Christians serving in the armed forces of a nation. Most are (quasi-)diocesan branches of the Roman Catholic Church, both Latin and Eastern Rites, directly subject to the Pope. It is headed by a prelate, usually a titular bishop.

In most cases, a military ordinariate has a rank of an apostolic vicariate. In nations with wider military reach, the military ordinariate has the rank of a diocese. Outside of Italy, only the armed forces of the United States has been granted the special rank of archdiocese by Pope Pius XII, led by a prelate archbishop overseeing a corps of several bishops serving around the world.

Some nations have military ordinariates of the Anglican Communion, Lutheranism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

List of catholic military ordinariates (2005)

• Argentina: Military Ordinariate of Argentina (since 1957; vicariate till 1986)
• Australia: Australian Catholic Defence Diocese (since 1969)
• Austria: Latin Military Ordinariate of Austria
• Belgium: Latin Military Ordinariate of Belgium (since 1957; vested in the only Archbishop)
• Bolivia: Military Ordinariate of Bolivia (since 1961)
• Brazil (since 1950)
• Canada: Military Ordinariate of Canada (since 1951)
• Chile: Military Ordinariate of Chile (since 1910)
• Colombia: Military Ordinariate of Colombia (since 1949)
• Croatia: Latin Military Ordinariate of Croatia (since 1997)
• Dominican Republic : since 1958
• Ecuador: Military Ordinariate of Ecuador (since 1983)
• El Salvador: Military Ordinariate of El Salvador (1968-1993; vacant)
• France: Latin Diocese of the French Armies (since 1952)
• Germany: Latin Military Ordinariate of Germany (since 1933)
• Hungary : Latin (since 1994)
• Indonesia : Military Ordinariate of Indonesia (since 1949)
• Italy: Latin Archbishop Military Ordinariate of Italy (since 1925)
• Kenya: Military Ordinariate of Kenya (since 1964)
• Lithuania : Latin (since 2000)
• Netherlands : Latin Apostolic administrator (since 1957)
• New Zealand (since 1976)
• Paraguay: Military Ordinariate of Paraguay (since 1961)
• Peru: Military Ordinariate of Peru (since 1943)
• Philippines: Military Ordinariate of the Philippines (since 1950)
• Poland : Latin (since 1991)
• Portugal : Latin (since 1966)
•  ? abolished ? Romania: Military Ordinariate of Romania
• Slovakia : Latin (since 2003)
• South Africa: Military Ordinariate of South Africa (since 1953)
• South Korea: Military Ordinariate of Korea (since 1983)
• Spain: Latin Military Ordinariate of Spain (since 1950)
• Uganda: Military Ordinariate of Uganda (since 1964)
• United Kingdom: Latin Military Ordinariate of Great Britain (since 1953)
• United States: Archdiocese for the Military Services
• Venezuela: Military Ordinariate of Venezuela (since 1995)

Sources and references

Catholic Hierarchy.orgde:Militärordinariat nl:Militair ordinariaat no:Militærordinariat