Circumcription bull

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The old diocesan structure (black border lines) and the new description after the Congress of Vienna (colored areas)

A Zirkumskriptionsbulle (lat. Circumscriptio , "Description"; see papal bull ) is a Pope instrument by which the limits of bishoprics be redefined.

After the end of the ecclesiastical principalities in 1803 and the political reorganization of Germany by the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the circumscription bulls most important for Germany determined the new diocesan borders within Germany, closely following the new national borders (see new description of the Catholic dioceses in Germany after the Congress of Vienna ):

• 1817 for Bavaria (as part of the Bavarian Concordat of 1817 )
• 1821 for Prussia ( De salute animarum ) and for southwest Germany ( Provida solersque )
• 1824 for the Kingdom of Hanover ( Impensa Romanorum Pontificum )

This reorganization formed the outer framework for the new consolidation of Catholicism in Germany after the collapse of the old imperial church system .

The diocesan changes from 1817–1824 are still valid today with minor changes and still reflect the political map of the early 19th century.