Mission Diocese
The term mission diocese colloquially describes a diocese that is dependent on the universal Church both personally and financially.
Responsibilities
A formal criterion for a mission diocese is the competence of the congregation for the evangelization of the peoples in the appointment of bishops, while for other dioceses the congregation for the bishops or the congregation for the oriental churches is responsible (AG 29). A change from a mission diocese to a "normal" diocese is possible if the mission diocese can live on its own in terms of personnel and finances and the change appears to be politically opportune. On World Mission Sunday, the church collects donations worldwide for the mission dioceses. The so-called "mission dioceses" include five different forms of church units:
Mission sui iuris
Afghanistan , Turkmenistan , Tajikistan and five small archipelagos are eight mission sui juris headed by a priest appointed by the Pope .
Apostolic Prefecture
An Apostolic Prefecture is a local church (CIC 368) that is “equal” to a diocese, but does not yet have to be headed by a bishop , even if the person responsible can exercise all the rights of a bishop. There are a total of 44 Apostolic Prefectures, most of which are in China .
Apostolic Vicariate and Territorial Prelatures
A Vicariate Apostolic or Territorial Prelature is a "probationary" diocese directed by a titular bishop . Today there are 79 Apostolic Vicariats and 50 Territorial Prelatures.
Apostolic Administration
An apostolic administration is "not established by the Pope as a diocese for special and really serious reasons" but "transferred to an apostolic administrator who has to lead it in the name of the Pope" (CIC 371,2). The nine administrations can be found in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, among others.