A military ordinariate is an ecclesiastical unit responsible for the pastoral care of Christians serving in the armed forces of a nation. Most are (quasi-)diocesan branches of the Roman Catholic Church, both Latin and Eastern Rites, directly subject to the pope. It is headed by a prelate, usually a titular bishop. A military or military force (n. ... The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian body, with over 1. ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Catholic Church. ... A prelate is a member of the clergy who either has ordinary jurisdiction over a group of people or ranks in precedence with ordinaries. ... When first appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu in Hawaii, Joseph Anthony Ferrario became a titular bishop of the ancient Egyptian city of Cusae. ...

In most cases, a military ordinariate has a rank of an apostolic vicariate. In nations with wider military reach, the military ordinariate has the rank of a diocese. Outside of Italy, only the armed forces of the United States has been granted the special rank of archdiocese by Pope Pius XII, led by a prelate archbishop overseeing a corps of several bishops serving around the world. Apostolic vicariate is a type of Roman Catholic diocese for non-Catholic or missionary regions and countries. ... Pope Pius XI blesses Bishop Stephen Alencastre as fifth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands in a Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace window. ... In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit governed by a bishop, sometimes also referred to as a bishopric or episcopal see, though more often the term episcopal see means the office held by the bishop. ... Pope Pius XII (Latin: ), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (March 2, 1876 – October 9, 1958), reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from March 2, 1939 to 1958. ... In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop heading a diocese of particular importance due to either its size, history, or both, called an archdiocese. ...

Some nations have military ordinariates of the Anglican Communion, Lutheranism and Eastern Orthodoxy. The Anglican Communion uses the compass rose as its symbol, signifying its worldwide reach and decentralized nature. ... The Lutheran tradition is a group of Christian denominations who accept the main theological insights of Martin Luther. ... ...

List of catholic military ordinariates (2005)

• Argentina: Military Ordinariate of Argentina (since 1957; vicariate till 1986)
• Australia: Australian Catholic Defence Diocese (since 1969)
• Austria: Latin Military Ordinariate of Austria
• Belgium: Latin Military Ordinariate of Belgium (since 1957; vested in the only Archbishop)
• Bolivia: Military Ordinariate of Bolivia (since 1961)
• Brazil (since 1950)
• Canada: Military Ordinariate of Canada (since 1951)
• Chile: Military Ordinariate of Chile (since 1910)
• Colombia: Military Ordinariate of Colombia (since 1949)
• Croatia: Latin Military Ordinariate of Croatia (since 1997)
• Dominican Republic : since 1958
• Ecuador: Military Ordinariate of Ecuador (since 1983)
• El Salvador: Military Ordinariate of El Salvador (1968-1993; vacant)
• France: Latin Diocese of the French Armies (since 1952)
• Germany: Latin Military Ordinariate of Germany (since 1933)
• Hungary : Latin (since 1994)
• Indonesia : 1949-1982, vacant
• Italy: Latin Archbishop Military Ordinariate of Italy (since 1925)
• Kenya: Military Ordinariate of Kenya (since 1964)
• Lithuania : Latin (since 2000)
• Netherlands : Latin Apostolic administrator (since 1957)
• New Zealand (since 1976)
• Paraguay: Military Ordinariate of Paraguay (since 1961)
• Peru: Military Ordinariate of Peru (since 1943)
• Philippines: Military Ordinariate of the Philippines (since 1950)
• Poland : Latin (since 1991)
• Portugal : Latin (since 1966)
•  ? abolished ? Romania: Military Ordinariate of Romania
• Slovakia : Latin (since 2003)
• South Africa: Military Ordinariate of South Africa (since 1953)
• South Korea: Military Ordinariate of Korea (since 1983)
• Spain: Latin Military Ordinariate of Spain (since 1950)
• Uganda: Military Ordinariate of Uganda (since 1964)
• United Kingdom: Latin Military Ordinariate of Great Britain (since 1953)
• United States: Archdiocese for the Military Services
• Venezuela: Military Ordinariate of Venezuela (since 1995)

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, also called the Military Ordinariate of the United States, is a special diocese canonically erected by Pope Pius XII in 1939 for members and others employed by the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. ...

Sources and References

Catholic Hierarchy.org