The Apostolic Vicariate (or Vicariate Apostolic) of Northern Arabia () () is a Catholic apostolic vicariate with official seat in Bahrain. Its cathedral episcopal see is the Holy Family Cathedral, in Kuwait City, capital of Kuwait. The most recent Ordinary of the vicariate is the Italian titular bishop Camillo Ballin, a member of the Comboni Missionaries, who died on April 12, 2020. The vicariate was then led by an Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap, who is also the Emeritus Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia. On 28 January 2023, Pope Francis appointed Msgr. Aldo Berardi O.SS.T. as the Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia. Statistics The vicariate serves the peninsular Arabian countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, but there are no churches on Saudi territory. As of 2020, it serves a Catholic population of 2,722,000, which is approximately 6.3% of the total population of the region (43,463,583). The vicariate comprises 11 parishes and has 54 priests, including 11 diocesan and 43 religious priests. Additionally, there are 1 deacon, 44 brothers, 18 sisters,1 seminarian, and 61 lay religious who support the vicariate.. History The Apostolic Vicariate was established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Kuwait on June 1953, on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia. It was promoted on 02 December 1954, as the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuwait, entitled to a titular bishop. It was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia on 31 May 2011, having gained additional territory from the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia, which was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. In January 2011, Pope Benedict XVI through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments declared the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Arabia patroness of the Northern Vicariate (feast on the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time). In August 2012, the headquarters of the vicariate was transferred from Kuwait to Bahrain, which is in the centre of the vicariate and had a more permissive visa policy. Leadership Apostolic Prefect of Kuwait Ubaldo Teofano Stella, Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.) (29 June 1953 – 2 December 1954 see below) Apostolic Vicars of Kuwait Ubaldo Teofano Stella, O.C.D. (born Italy) (see above 2 December 1954 – retired March 1966), Titular Bishop of Antæopolis (1955.06.04 – death 1978.11.09) Victor León Esteban San Miguel y Erce, O.C.D. (born Spain) (31 May 1976 – retired 5 November 1981), Titular Bishop of Rusubbicari