Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania

The Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania (Albanian: Administratura Apostolike e Shqiperisë së Jugut, Latin: Administratio Apostolica Albaniae Meridionalis, Italian: Albania Meridionale) is an apostolic administration of the Catholic Church in Albania, covering the southern regions of the country. It has jurisdiction over all Catholics on its territory, both of Latin Church and Byzantine Catholics.[2] It is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Tiranë–Durrës.[3] Its cathedra is in the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Louis (Albanian: Kisha e Shën Maria dhe Shën Luigji) in the episcopal see of Vlorë.

Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania

Administratio Apostolica Albaniae Meridionalis

Administratura Apostolike e Shqiperisë së Jugut
Location
CountryAlbania
TerritorySouthern Albania
Ecclesiastical provinceTiranë–Durrës
Statistics
Area16,172 km2 (6,244 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2014)
2,140,000
3,596 (0.2%)
Parishes11
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church and Albanian Greek Catholic Church[1]
RiteRoman Rite and Byzantine Rite
Established11 November 1939
CathedralPro-Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Louis in Vlorë
Secular priests8
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Apostolic AdministratorGiovanni Peragine
Metropolitan ArchbishopGeorge Anthony Frendo Archbishop of Tiranë–Durrës
Map

  Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania

The Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania constitutes an ecclesiastical territory comprising the Albanian Greek Catholic Church, which itself does not exclusively govern any episcopal jurisdictions.[4] Such claims have been questioned by some leading Eastern Catholic experts.[5]

History

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Territory of the Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania

On 11 November 1939, the Holy See issued the papal bull Inter regiones, establishing the Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania. Initially, it was created as a regular apostolic administration, for all Catholics in southern regions of Albania, both of Latin and Byzantine rites. Its territory was detached from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Durrës, and initially covered districts of Elbassan, Korca, Berat, Valona and Argyrocastro.[6]

Since 25 January 2005, it is suffragan to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tiranë-Durrës, within the newly created metropolitan province.[7]

From 1937 to 2024, the Apostolic Administration was served exclusively by priests supplied from the Diocese of Rimini, until the first local priest was ordained in 2024.[8]

Episcopal ordinaries

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(all Albanian Catholic)

Apostolic Administrators of Southern Albania

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Perry, Ken (ed.), The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity, p291
  2. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis, 32 (1940), p. 139-140.
  3. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis, 97 (2005), p. 131-132.
  4. ^ "Apostolic Administration of Southern Albania". Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  5. ^ Galadza 2007, pp. 293.
  6. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis, 32 (1940), p. 139-140.
  7. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis, 97 (2005), p. 131-132.
  8. ^ Coppen, Luke (30 April 2024). "Ordination milestone for southern Albania's Catholics". The Pillar.
  9. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. XXXII. 1940. pp. 139–40. Retrieved 18 May 2020.

Sources

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