title: Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo
text: # Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo
  
  The Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo is a Latin Catholic missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction covering the Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces in southern Philippines.
  
  It is directly exempt to the Holy See, specifically Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and not part of any ecclesiastical province, yet for the purpose of apostolic cooperation sometimes grouped with the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.
  
  Its cathedral episcopal see is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Jolo, Sulu, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
  
  ## History
  
  Established on 28 October 1953 as Apostolic Prefecture of Sulu, of territory split off from the then Territorial Prelature of Cotabato and Sulu (now diocese of Cotabato).
  
  Promoted and renamed after its see on 12 July 1958 as Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo, led by a titular bishop.
  
  ## Ordinaries
  
  ### Apostolic Prefect of Sulu
  
  * Francis Joseph McSorley (1954 – 1958.07.12)
  
  ### Apostolic Vicars of Jolo
  
  * Francis Joseph McSorley (1958.07.12 – death 1970.11.20), Titular Bishop of Sozusa in Palæstina (1958.07.12 – 1970.11.20)
  * Philip Francis Smith (1972.06.26 – retired 1979.04.11), Titular Bishop of Lamphua (1972.06.26 – 1980.03.14), later Coadjutor Bishop of Cotabato (Philippines) (1979.04.11 – 1979.11.05), succeeded as Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotabato (1979.11.05 – 1998.05.30)
  * George Eli Dion (1980.01.28 – death 1999.02.12), Titular Bishop of Caudium (1980.01.28 – 1999.02.12)
  * Benjamin de Jesus (1991.10.11 – death 1997.02.04)
  * Angelito Lampon (21 November 1997 – 6 November 2018), Titular Bishop of Valliposita (1997.11.21 – 2018.11.06), succeeded as Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotabato (2018.11.06 –)
  * Romeo Sombilon Saniel (2018.12.16-2020.04.04), Apostolic Administrator
  * Charile M.Inzon (2020.04.04-present)
  