Vacant Sees...

[orgel_maestro]

So, one thing led to another, and I ended up on the “catholic-hierarchy.org” website, which has the history of all the bishops we’ve had, current bishops, history of dioceses etc. Well, there’s surprisingly a large number of vacant sees. Some dioceses have not had a bishop since like the 40’s or something. So, in this case, what exactly happens? Who’s in charge? Who blesses the Holy Oils, who does all the bishop stuff if there is no bishop?

 

[bpbasilphx]

Some of these dioceses were transferred, or the name of the see city changed, such as the Diocese of Bardstown, KY, is now (and for over 100 years) been the Diocese of Louisville.

Some are suppressed (such as Walla Walla).

Some, especially in the East, the population moves away.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Usually if a see is vacant for decades but not yet suppressed it is really just waiting for the rubber stamp. For instance, the Byzantine Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul was erected in the 20s and then never received another ordinary after the death of only its second bishop. There are probably fewer Byzantine Catholics in Istanbul than there are Latin Catholics in a mid-sized American parish, so the pastoral care of those Byzantines has most likely simply been transferred to the nearest Easter eparch without actually suppressing the see. If you note, most of the longest vacancies on that site are for Eastern sees of some sort and/or structures below the diocesan level (vicariates, prefectures, delegations). Both of those categories are prime suspects for not being able to maintain an indigenous hierarchy over the long term.