Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang-Urumqi

The Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang-Urumqi is a pre-diocesan missionary Latin jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in northwestern China's vast region Xinjiang, which is exempt, i.e. directly dependent on the Holy See and its missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, not part of any ecclesiastical province.
It borders on Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan/India-disputed Kashmir, Tibet, Kokonor, Han-China proper and (Outer) Mongolia.
Its episcopal see is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in regional capital Ürümqi. No statistics are available.

Antecedents

Modern missions in Xinjiang were mounted by the Scheutists from their neighboring Apostolic Vicariate of Kansu, under its authority.
On 1 October 1888 the Holy See erected and confided to them a Mission sui juris of I-li, restoring in the name the short-lived Diocese of Ili-baluc, which has been a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Khanbalik, in the Great Khan's Mongol-Chinese capital.
This Independent Mission of Ili was suppressed on 8 March 1922 by Pius XI's papal brief Apostolatus officium, incorporating its territory in the Western Kansu.

Established on 14 February 1930 as Mission sui juris of Xinjiang 新疆 / Urumqi 烏魯木齊 / Sinkiang / Xinjiang-Urumqi 新疆烏魯木齊 / Sinkiangen, but now confided to the Divine Word Missionaries.
Promoted on 21 May 1938 as Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang 新疆 / Urumqi 烏魯木齊 / Sinkiang / Xinjiang-Urumqi 新疆烏魯木齊 / Sinkiangen

;Ecclesiastical Superior of Xinjiang 新疆

;Apostolic Prefects of Xinjiang 新疆