An apostolic prefecture is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church for non-Catholic or missionary regions and countries which do not have a diocese yet. It is led by a prefect apostolic, who only rarely is a titular bishop but is normally a priest. If a prefecture grows and flourishes, it is elevated to an Apostolic vicariate, which is headed by a bishop, though it is again not yet a diocese. In both cases, the hope is that with time the region will generate enough Catholics, and enough stability for its Catholic institutions, to warrant being "erected" into its own diocese.

The usual sequence of development is mission, to prefecture, to apostolic vicariate, to diocese.

These are to be distinguished from a territorial abbacy (or "abbey nullius").

Apostolic prefectures fell out of use in the 20th century, however Pope John Paul II started to create them again.

References

• Apostolische Präfektur