Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar
The Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar is a Roman Catholic Latin apostolic prefecture located in Mongolia, with its territory consisting of the entire country.
Its cathedral episcopal see is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, in the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.
It is exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province.
On 28 August 2016, the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar celebrated the ordination of the first native Mongolian priest by Msgr. Wenceslao Padilla. Other seminarians are studying currently in South Korea.
History
- Established on 14 March 1922 as Mission “sui iuris” of Outer Mongolia, on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Mongolia
- Renamed in 1924 as Mission sui iuris of Urga
- Promoted on 8 July 2002 as Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, but still not entitled to a titular bishop.
Statistics
As of 2014, the prefecture had 919 Catholics on 1,564,120 km2 in six parishes and a mission with 17 priests, 61 in religious life and 2 seminarians.Ordinaries
- All missionary members of Latin congregations, notably Scheutists
- Apostolic Administrator Girolamo van Aertselaer, C.I.C.M., also Apostolic Vicar of the then Apostolic Vicariate of Chahaer 察哈爾 & Titular Bishop of Zaraï
- Apostolic Administrator Everard Ter Laak, C.I.C.M., also Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Chahaer 察哈爾 & Titular Bishop of Parœcopolis ; previously Apostolic Vicar of Southern Kansu 甘肅南境 and Apostolic Vicar of Chahaer ; later Apostolic Vicar of Xiwanzi 西灣子
- Fr. Wenceslao Selga Padilla, C.I.C.M.
- Wenceslao Selga Padilla, C.I.C.M., Titular Bishop of Tharros
- Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, I.M.C., Cardinal-Priest of San Giuda Taddeo Apostolo