A territorial prelature is a defined portion of the people of God, territorially distinct from a diocese, entrusted to a prelate who governs it as its proper pastor.
Nature of the office
It is equivalent in law to a diocese unless the nature of the institution or a provision of law indicates otherwise. The prelate may be a bishop, but the jurisdiction comes from the canonical office rather than episcopal ordination alone.
Canonical place
The Holy See erects territorial prelatures for pastoral circumstances that make ordinary diocesan form less suitable. Their faithful, clergy, curia, parishes, and governance are ordered according to universal law and the decree of erection.[1]
References
- 1.Code of Canon Law, canon 370 — Universal or special law governing the office and its competence