Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services

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. Its ordinary is the Archbishop for the Military Services, assisted by a corps of auxiliary bishops which oversees chaplain priests serving throughout the world. The seat of archdiocese is Washington, DC.

History

Before its elevation to a full archdiocese, the armed forces of the United States was served by an informal corps of volunteer priests. Their work dates back to the colonial era of American history, through the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I and World War II. What would later become the apostolic vicariate of the military, popes began choosing bishops to oversee military chaplains since the appointment of Patrick Cardinal Hayes as papal military vicar for the United States on November 24, 1917.

Related Topics:
Revolutionary War - War of 1812 - Civil War - World War I - World War II - Apostolic vicariate - Pope - November 24 - 1917

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