VICARIUS APOSTOLICUS

vicarius apostolicus (vI-kair-ee-[schwa]s ap-[schwa]s-tahl-[schwa]-k[ schwa]s), n. [Latin “apostolic vicar”] Eccles. law. An officer through whom the Pope exercises authority in remote regions. • This officer is sometimes sent with episcopal functions into provinces where there is no bishop resident or where there has long been a vacancy in the see.