Metropolitan Archdiocese of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Rabaul / 拉包爾 (正體中文) / Rabaulen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Bougainville, Kavieng, Kimbe

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1844.07.16: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Melanesia (from Apostolic Vicariate of New Zealand)
1889.05.10: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of New Britain (gained territory from the suppressed Apostolic Vicariate of Micronesia and lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of New Guinea)
1890.12.08: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of New Pomerania
1896.02.24: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
1897.06.28: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Gilbert Islands
1897.07.27: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of British Solomons
1898.05.23: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of German Solomon Islands
1905.09.16: Lost territory to establish Mission sui juris of Marshall Islands
1922.11.14: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Rabaul / 拉包爾 (正體中文) / Rabaulen(sis) (Latin)
1957.07.05: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Kavieng
1966.11.15: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Rabaul / 拉包爾 (正體中文) / Rabaulen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Bougainville, Gizo, Honiara and Kavieng)
1978.11.15: Lost suffragan sees Gizo and Honiara
2003.07.04: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Kimbe and gained suffragan see Kimbe

Contact Info

Address: Archbishop’s House, P.O. Box 357, Kokopo 613, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea

Phone: 98.29.384

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2020.06.19 – ...):

Archbishop Rochus Josef Tatamai, M.S.C. (62)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Rabaul (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Rochus Josef Tatamai, M.S.C. (62)
(2020.06.19 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea)

God wantaim yumi

Born:	1962.09.24 (Raduna, Papua New Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1989.11.26
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.09.29

Titular Bishop of Accia (2005.07.08 – 2007.11.29)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kerema (Papua New Guinea) (2005.07.08 – 2007.11.29)

Bishop of Bereina (Papua New Guinea) (2007.11.29 – 2018.06.22)

Vice-President of Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (2010 – 2014)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Soloman Islands (2017.05.03 – 2020.07.02)

Bishop of Kavieng (Papua New Guinea) (2018.06.22 – 2020.06.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (2020.06.19 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Kavieng (Papua New Guinea) (2020.09.29 – 2023.06.24)

Archbishop Francesco Panfilo, S.D.B. (82)
(2011.08.11 – 2020.06.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea)

Duc in altum

Born:	1942.11.23 (Vilminore di Scalve, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1974.04.27
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.09.08

Bishop of Alotau–Sideia (Papua New Guinea) (2001.06.25 – 2010.03.18)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Soloman Islands (2008.04 – 2011.05)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (2010.03.18 – 2011.08.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (2011.08.11 – 2020.06.19)

Apostolic Administrator of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (2019.08.13 – 2020.09.12)

Archbishop Karl Hesse, M.S.C.
(1990.07.07 – 2011.08.11)

Caritas et justitia

Born:	1936.08.15 (Wosswinkel, Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1963.05.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.08.15
Died:	2023.05.14 (Vunapope, Papua New Guinea † 86)

Titular Bishop of Naratcata (1978.04.27 – 1980.10.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (1978.04.27 – 1980.10.24)

Bishop of Kavieng (Papua New Guinea) (1980.10.24 – 1990.07.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (1990.07.07 – 2011.08.11)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Soloman Islands (1994 – 1996)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (1995 – 1996.09.12)

Apostolic Administrator of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (1996.09.12 – 1999.04.19)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Soloman Islands (2002 – 2005)

Archbishop Albert-Leo Bundervoet, M.S.C.
(1980.03.06 – 1989.03.29)

Born:	1917.09.07 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1942.08.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1980.05.11
Died:	1989.03.29 († 71)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (1980.03.06 – 1989.03.29)

Archbishop Johannes Höhne, M.S.C.
(1966.11.15 – 1978.05.27)

Born:	1910.08.12 (Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1937.03.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.05.11
Died:	1978.05.27 († 67)

Titular Bishop of Urima (1963.03.01 – 1966.11.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (1963.03.01 – 1966.11.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (1966.11.15 – 1978.05.27)

Vicars Apostolic of Rabaul (Roman Rite)

Bishop Johannes Höhne, M.S.C. (later Archbishop)
(1963.03.01 – 1966.11.15)

(see above)

Bishop Leo Isidore Scharmach, M.S.C.
(1939.06.13 – 1963)

Born:	1896.04.04
Ordained Priest:	1924.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1939.12.03
Died:	1964.11.26 († 68)

Vicar Apostolic of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (1939.06.13 – 1963)

Titular Bishop of Mostene (1939.06.13 – 1964.11.26)

Bishop Gerard Vesters, M.S.C.
(1923.02.16 – 1938)

Fortis in fide

Born:	1876.08.27 (Vucht, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1903.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1923.08.05
Died:	1954.08.30 († 78)

Prefect Apostolic of Celebes (Indonesia) (1919.12 – 1923.02.16)

Vicar Apostolic of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (1923.02.16 – 1938)

Titular Bishop of Diocletianopolis in Palæstina (1923.02.16 – 1954.08.30)

Bishop Louis Couppé, M.S.C. (later Archbishop)
(1922.11.14 – 1923)

Born:	1850.08.26 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1874.05.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1890.10.05
Died:	1926.07.20 († 75)

Vicar Apostolic of New Britain (Papua New Guinea) (1889.12.28 – 1890.12.08)

Titular Bishop of Lerus (1889.12.28 – 1925.12.18)

Vicar Apostolic of New Pomerania (Papua New Guinea) (1890.12.08 – 1922.11.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) (1922.11.14 – 1923)

Titular Archbishop of Hierapolis (1925.12.18 – 1926.07.20)

Vicars Apostolic of New Pomerania (Roman Rite)

Bishop Louis Couppé, M.S.C. (later Archbishop)
(1890.12.08 – 1922.11.14)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of New Britain (Roman Rite)

Bishop Louis Couppé, M.S.C. (later Archbishop)
(1889.12.28 – 1890.12.08)

(see above)

Bishop Stanislas Henri Verjus, M.S.C.
(1889.05.10 – 1889.12.28)

Born:	1860.05.26 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1883.11.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1889.09.22
Died:	1892.11.13 († 32)

Vicar Apostolic of New Britain (Papua New Guinea) (1889.05.10 – 1889.12.28)

Titular Bishop of Limyra (1889.05.10 – 1892.11.13)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea) (1889.12.28 – 1892.11.13)

Vicars Apostolic of Melanesia (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Louis-André Navarre, M.S.C.
(1887.05.17 – 1889.05.10)

Born:	1836.02.03 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1872.05.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1887.11.30
Died:	1912.01.17 († 75)

Titular Bishop of Pentacomia (1887.05.17 – 1888.08.17)

Vicar Apostolic of Melanesia (Papua New Guinea) (1887.05.17 – 1889.05.10)

Titular Archbishop of Cyrrhus (1888.08.17 – 1912.01.17)

Vicar Apostolic of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea) (1889.05.10 – 1908.01)

Fr. Paolo Reina, M.E.M.
(1852.01.11 – 1861.03.14)

Born:	1825 (Italy)
Died:	1861.03.14 († 35)

Vicar Apostolic of Melanesia (Papua New Guinea) (1852.01.11 – 1861.03.14)

Bishop Jean Georges Collomb, S.M.
(1846.02.19 – 1848.07.16)

Clamamus exules

Born:	1816.04.30 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1839.05.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1847.05.23
Died:	1848.07.16 († 32)

Titular Bishop of Antiphellus (1846.02.19 – 1848.07.16)

Vicar Apostolic of Melanesia (Papua New Guinea) (1846.02.19 – 1848.07.16)

Bishop Jean Baptiste Epalle, S.M.
(1844.07.19 – 1845.12.19)

Born:	1808.03.08 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1837
Consecrated Bishop:	1844.07.21
Died:	1845.12.19 († 37)

Titular Bishop of Sion (1844.07.19 – 1845.12.19)

Vicar Apostolic of Melanesia (Papua New Guinea) (1844.07.19 – 1845.12.19)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Francesco Panfilo, S.D.B. (82) (2010.03.18 – 2011.08.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop John Doaninoel, S.M. (2007.12.06 – 2011.06.09)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Alphonse Liguori Chaupa (2000.06.24 – 2003.07.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Patrick Taval, M.S.C. (1999.06.22 – 2007.12.06)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop George To Bata (1978.04.27 – 1995.03.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Karl Hesse, M.S.C. (later Archbishop) (1978.04.27 – 1980.10.24)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Vunapope, East New Britain
Co-Cathedral: St Francis Xavier’s Co-Cathedral, Rabaul, East New Britain

Kimbe (↙), Kavieng (↖), Bougainville (↘)

Statistics (2019.12.31)

Area: 19,320 km²

Population: 191,400 Catholics (46.3% of 413,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 41 parishes, 65 missions

Personnel: 73 priests (59 diocesan, 14 religious), 147 religious (26 brothers, 121 sisters), 12 seminarians