on 13 september 1894, the holy see established the apostolic prefecture of eritrea, then an italian colony, with the decree "ut saluti animarum" of the congregation for the propagation of the faith. its territory was taken from that of the apostolic vicariate of abyssinia, which at that time had its headquarters in keren, eritrea, a town that became the first seat of the new apostolic prefecture of eritrea. on 7 february 1911, it was promoted to apostolic vicariate (with a titular bishop as ordinary).