Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Arabia

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Kuwait
  • Latin Name: Kuvaitensis
  • Erected: 29 June 1953
  • Country: Kuwait

• Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait
  • Latin Name: Kuvaitensis
  • Elevated: 2 December 1954
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Kuwait
  • Square Kilometers: 17,900 (6,913 Square Miles)
  • Description: Kuwait
  • Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Holy Family Cathedral, P.O. Box 266, 13003 Safat, Kuwait, Arabian Gulf
  • Telephone: 2243.46.37
  • Fax: 2240.99.81

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Ubaldo Teofano Stella, O.C.D. † (29 Jun 1953 Appointed - 4 Jun 1955 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait)
• Ubaldo Teofano Stella, O.C.D. † (4 Jun 1955 Appointed - Mar 1966 Resigned)
• Victor León Esteban San Miguel y Erce, O.C.D. † (31 May 1976 Appointed - 5 Nov 1981 Retired)
• Francis George Adeodatus Micallef, O.C.D. † (5 Nov 1981 Appointed - 14 Jul 2005 Retired)
• Camillo Ballin, M.C.C.I. † (14 Jul 2005 Appointed - 12 Apr 2020 Died)
• Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T. (28 Jan 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait
1966	16,000	475,000	3.4%		4	4	4,000		3	12	5	ap1967
1970	17,200	733,196	2.3%	6	6	12	1,433		6	31	4	ap1971
1980	32,000	1,270,000	2.5%	3	4	7	4,571		4	30	3	ap1981
1988	51,430	1,834,756	2.8%	2	5	7	7,347		5	30	5	ap1991
1999	151,000	2,000,000	7.5%	1	5	6	25,166	1	5	12	4	ap2000
2000	151,000	2,000,000	7.5%	1	6	7	21,571	1	6	13	4	ap2001
2001	153,000	2,000,000	7.7%	2	6	8	19,125	1	6	13	4	ap2002
2002	154,000	2,500,000	6.2%	2	6	8	19,250	1	6	13	4	ap2003
2003	156,000	2,501,000	6.2%	2	7	9	17,333	1	7	13	4	ap2004
2004	158,500	2,650,000	6.0%	2	8	10	15,850	1	8	13	4	ap2005
2010	300,000	3,000,000	10.0%	6	11	17	17,647	1	11	12	3	ap2011
Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Arabia
2012	1,127,954	2,650,000	42.6%	7	16	23	49,041	1	16	12	4	ap2013
2014	2,445,000	36,252,722	6.7%	18	40	58	42,155	2	40	18	10	ap2015
2017	2,570,067	40,599,576	6.3%	2	44	46	55,871	2	47	18	11	ap2018
2020	2,752,241	42,956,169	6.4%	16		16	172,015	1	4	18	11	ap2021
2022	2,722,750	43,465,183	6.3%	13	43	56	48,620	1	44	17	11	ap2023
2024	2,732,950	39,152,990	7.0%	15	51	66	41,408		51	17	11	ap2025

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T. (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jan 2023 - )
• Paul Hinder, O.F.M. Cap. (Apostolic Administrator: 13 May 2020 to 18 Mar 2023)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Camillo Ballin, M.C.C.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jul 2005 to 12 Apr 2020)
• Francis George Adeodatus Micallef, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 5 Nov 1981 to 14 Jul 2005)
• Victor León Esteban San Miguel y Erce, O.C.D. † (Apostolic Administrator: 17 Mar 1966; Vicar Apostolic: 31 May 1976 to 5 Nov 1981)
• Ubaldo Teofano Stella, O.C.D. † (Superior: 29 Jun 1953 to 4 Jun 1955; Vicar Apostolic: 4 Jun 1955 to Mar 1966)

Source(s)

Home | Countries | Religious Men Women | Popes | Holy See | Roman Curia | Cardinals by Rank Bishops: All | Living | Deceased | Youngest | Oldest | Cardinal Electors Dioceses: All | Current Only | Titular | Vacant | Structured View Events: Overview | Recent | by Date | by Year | Necrology Ad Limina | Conclaves | Consistories | Councils Eastern Catholic Churches
About Catholic-Hierarchy		Terminology/Site Help
		Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2025 Code: web_d, v3.4.9, 15 Sep 2024; Data: 20 Oct 2025

✠