Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia
The Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia () was an apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church with territorial jurisdiction for Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The last Apostolic Vicar is Msgr. Paul Hinder, OFM Cap. History The territory was originally part of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Gallas, but it was separated into an apostolic prefecture by Pope Pius IX on 21 January 1875. On 25 April 1888, Pope Leo XIII made the Apostolic Vicariate of Aden, located in Yemen. On the 28 June 1889, the name was changed to the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia, responsible for the countries of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding region: Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Somalia and Yemen. The Vicariate was entrusted to the Capuchin Franciscans of Lyons, France until 1916. In 1915, The Congregation for the Propagation of Faith was looking to establish a capuchin province in the Arabian Peninsula which could bring back stability to the mission in the region, and in 1916 the Vicariate was entrusted to the Capuchins of the Tuscan Province in Florence, Italy. For many years, Capuchins and other priest had come but could not cope with the harsh reality