Roman Catholic Diocese of Tonga
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tonga (Latin: Dioecesis Tongana) in Tonga is immediately subject to the Holy See. It was erected as the Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania in 1842, had subsequent name changes in 1937 and 1957 and was elevated to the Diocese of Tonga on June 21, 1966.[1] Its principal church is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Tonga (Tongan: Malia Tupu Imakulata) in the capital Nuku'alofa. The tiny Catholic community of some 17,000 is threatened with losing its home because of climate change.[2]
Diocese of Tonga Dioecesis Tongana | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms of Diocese | |
| Location | |
| Country | Tonga |
| Territory | Tonga and Niue |
| Ecclesiastical province | Immediately Subject to the Holy See |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 947 km2 (366 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members) | (as of 2011) 104,660 17,000 (7.6%) |
| Parishes | 14 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 12 June 1966 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Tonga (Tongan: Malia Tupu Imakulata) |
| Patron saint | The Immaculate Conception |
| Secular priests | 38 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Soane Patita Paini Mafi, Bishop of Tonga, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Paola Romana |
| Bishops emeritus | Soane Lilo Foliaki, S.M. |
| Map | |
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On 4 January 2015, Pope Francis announced that he would make Tonga's Bishop Soane Patita Paini Mafi a cardinal on 14 February.[3][4]
Bishops
Ordinaries
- Pierre Bataillon, S. M. (1842–1863)
- Aloys Elloy, S. M. (1872–1878)
- Jean-Amand Lamaze, S. M. (1879–1906)
- Armand Olier, S. M. (1906–1911)
- Joseph-Felix Blanc, S. M. (1912–1952)
- John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S.M. (1953–1972), appointed Titular Bishop of Caput Cilla
- Patelisio Punou-Ki-Hihifo Finau, S. M. (1972–1993)
- Soane Lilo Foliaki, S. M. (1994–2008)
- Soane Patita Paini Mafi (2008– ), elevated to Cardinal in 2015
Coadjutor bishops
- Guillaume Marie Douarre, S.M. (1842-1847), as Coadjutor vicar apostolic; did not succeed to see; appointed Vicar Apostolic of Nouvelle-Calédonie, New Caledonia, Pacific (Oceania)
- Aloys Elloy, S.M. (1863-1877), as Coadjutor vicar apostolic
- Armand Olier, S.M. (1903-1906), as Coadjutor vicar apostolic
- Patelisio Punou-Ki-Hihifo Finau, S.M. (1971-1972)
- Soane Patita Paini Mafi (2007-2008); future Cardinal
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was designed by Marek Sobola, a heraldic artist from Žilina (Slovakia), who also made a diocesan seal and flag.[5] These are based on the Tonga flag and a Fleur-de-lis, symbol of the Immaculate Conception in Christian iconography. The coat of arms was adopted officially on September 21, 2017.[5]
References
- Cheney, David M. "Tonga (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- "Pope appoints 20 new cardinals". BBC News. 2015-02-14. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- "Annuncio di Concistoro per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- Matangi, Tonga online (2015-02-16). "Tongans celebrate first Cardinal". Matangi Tonga. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- Sobola, Marek. "Erb Tongskej diecézy – Coat of arms of Diocese of Tonga". sobola.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2018-02-04.
External links
"Diocese of Tonga". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2015-08-01.