Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia
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The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia consists of the Independent State of Samoa. The origins of the archdiocese stem from the August 20, 1850 canonical erection by the Holy See of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Navigators' Archipelago, entrusted to the Society of Mary (Marists). On January 4, 1957, the Vatican changed the name of the Vicariate Apostolic to Samoa and the Tokelau Islands. On June 21, 1966, the vicariate apostolic was elevated to the Diocese of Apia, and made suffragan to the metropolitan see of Suva, Fiji. On August 10, 1974, the name of the diocese was changed to Apia o Samoa and Tokelau. On December 3, 1975, the name of the diocese was changed to Samoa and Tokelau. On September 10, 1982, the diocese was elevated to the dignity of archdiocese taking the name of the See city, Apia. Simultaneously, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago was created from a portion of the former Diocese of Samoa Tokelau and made suffragan to the metropolitan see of Apia.
[edit] Prelates of Samoa-Apia
- Pierre Bataillon, S.M., D.D., Titular Bishop of Aenus and Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania, November 22, 1842 - 1870
- Aloys Elloy, S.M., D.D., Titular Bishop of Tipasa in Mauretania and Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania, Apostolic Administrator of Navigators' Archipelago, 1870 - 1878
- Jean-Armand Lamaze, S.M., D.D., Titular Bishop of Olympus and Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania, Apostolic Administrator of Navigators' Archipelago, December 21, 1879 - 1896
- Pierre Broyer, S.M., D.D., Titular Bishop of Polemonium and First Vicar Apostolic of Navigators' Archipelago, March 30, 1896 - October 9, 1918
- Joseph Darnand, S.M., D.D., Titular Bishop of Polemonium and Second Vicar Apostolic of Navigators' Archipelago, May 16, 1920 - November 23, 1953
- Giovanni Battista Dieter, S.M., D.D., Titular Bishop of Ierafi and Third Vicar Apostolic of Navigators' Archipelago, May 19, 1954 - June 28, 1955
- George Hamilton Pearce, S.M., D.D., Titular Bishop of Attalea in Pamphylia and Fourth Vicar Apostolic of Navigators' Archipelago, June 29, 1956 - June 21, 1966, First Bishop of Apia, June 21, 1966 - June 22, 1967
- Pio Cardinal Taofinu'u, S.M., D.D., Second Bishop of Apia, May 29, 1968 - September 10, 1982, First Archbishop of Samoa-Apia, September 10, 1982 - November 16, 2002
- Alapati Lui Mataeliga, D.D., Second Archbishop of Samoa-Apia, November 16, 2002 - present
[edit] Source
Galuega O Le Sinoti (Acts of the Snyod of the Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia), December 7-14, 1990, promulgated, May 1, 1991, Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. Apia, Samoa.
