Metropolitan Archdiocese of Samoa

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Samoa–Apia / Samoa–Apian(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Samoa–Pago Pago, Tokelau

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1850.08.20: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Archipelago of the Navigators / Arcipelago dei Navigatori (Italiano) / Arcipelagi Navigatorum (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Central Oceania)
1957.01.04: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Samoa Island and Tokelau (English) / Isole Samoa e Tokelau (Italiano)
1966.06.21: Promoted as Diocese of Apia
1974.08.10: Renamed as Diocese of Apia and Tokelau (English) / Samoa and Tokelau (English)
1975.12.03: Renamed as Diocese of Samoa and Tokelau (English) / Samoan(us) et Tokelaun(us) (Latin)
1982.09.10: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Samoa–Apia and Tokelau (English) / Samoa–Apian(us) et Tokelaun(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Samoa–Pago Pago and Funafuti and lost territory to establish Diocese of Samoa–Pago Pago)
1992.06.26: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Samoa–Apia / Samoa–Apian(us) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Mission sui juris of Tokelau and gained suffragan see Tokelau)
2003.03.21: Lost suffragan see Funafuti

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2024.06.12 – ...):

Archbishop Mosese Vitolio Tui, S.D.B. (63)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Tokelau (Tokelau)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Samoa–Apia (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Mosese Vitolio Tui, S.D.B. (63)
(2024.06.12 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Samoa–Apia (Samoa)
Ecclesiastical Superior of Tokelau (Tokelau)

Vivi’i lo’u loto i le Ali’i

Born:	1961.11.09 (Apia, Samoa)
Ordained Priest:	1994.12.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.08.22

Metropolitan Archbishop of Samoa–Apia (Samoa) (2024.06.12 – ...)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Tokelau (Tokelau) (2024.12.21 – ...)

Bishop Peter Hugh Brown, C.SS.R. (77)
(Apostolic Administrator 2023.07.26 – 2024.06.12)

Fr. Pio Galumalemana
(Apostolic Administrator 2023.05? – 2023.07.26)

Archbishop Alapati Lui Mata’eliga
(2002.11.16 – 2023.04.25)

Born:	1953.01.04 (Sataua, Samoa)
Ordained Priest:	1977.07.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.01.03
Died:	2023.04.25 (Auckland, New Zealand † 70)

Priest of Samoa–Apia (Samoa) (1977.07.05 – 2002.11.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Samoa–Apia (Samoa) (2002.11.16 – 2023.04.25)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Tokelau (Tokelau) (2015.12.22 – 2023.04.25)

Cardinal Pio Taofinu’u, S.M.
(1992.06.26 – 2002.11.16)

Tuutuu i le loloto

Born:	1923.12.08 (Falealupo, Samoa)
Ordained Priest:	1954.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.05.29
Created Cardinal:	1973.03.05
Died:	2006.01.19 (Apia, Samoa † 82)

Bishop of Apia (Samoa) (1968.01.11 – 1974.08.10)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Onofrio (1973.03.05 – 2006.01.19)

Bishop of Samoa and Tokelau (Samoa) (1974.08.10 – 1982.09.10)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Funafuti (Tuvalu) (1982.09.10 – 1985.08.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Samoa–Pago Pago (American Samoa) (1982.09.10 – 1986.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Samoa–Apia and Tokelau (Samoa) (1982.09.10 – 1992.06.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Samoa–Apia (Samoa) (1992.06.26 – 2002.11.16)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Samoa–Apia and Tokelau (Roman Rite)

Cardinal Pio Taofinu’u, S.M.
(1982.09.10 – 1992.06.26)

(see above)

Bishops of Samoa and Tokelau (Roman Rite)

Cardinal Pio Taofinu’u, S.M.
(1974.08.10 – 1982.09.10)

(see above)

Bishops of Apia (Roman Rite)

Cardinal Pio Taofinu’u, S.M.
(1968.01.11 – 1974.08.10)

(see above)

Bishop George Hamilton Pearce, S.M. (later Archbishop)
(1966.06.21 – 1967.06.22)

Born:	1921.01.09 (Boston, MA, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1947.02.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1956.06.29
Died:	2015.08.30 († 94)

Titular Bishop of Attalea in Pamphylia (1956.02.29 – 1966.06.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Samoa Island and Tokelau (Samoa) (1956.02.29 – 1966.06.21)

Bishop of Apia (Samoa) (1966.06.21 – 1967.06.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Suva (Fiji) (1967.06.22 – 1976.04.10)

President of Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (1970 – 1971)

Vicars Apostolic of Samoa Island and Tokelau (Roman Rite)

Bishop George Hamilton Pearce, S.M. (later Archbishop)
(1956.02.29 – 1966.06.21)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Archipelago of the Navigators (Roman Rite)

Bishop Giovanni Dieter, S.M.
(1953.11.16 – 1955.06.28)

Born:	1903.09.30
Ordained Priest:	1933.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1954.05.19
Died:	1955.06.28 († 51)

Titular Bishop of Jerafi (1953.11.16 – 1955.06.28)

Vicar Apostolic of Archipelago of the Navigators (Samoa) (1953.11.16 – 1955.06.28)

Bishop Joseph Darnand, S.M.
(1919.08.04 – 1953.11.16)

Born:	1879.12.31 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1905.07.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1920.05.16
Died:	1962.06.01 († 82)

Vicar Apostolic of Archipelago of the Navigators (Samoa) (1919.08.04 – 1953.11.16)

Titular Bishop of Polemonium (1919.08.04 – 1962.06.01)

Bishop Pietro Broyer, S.M.
(1896.03.30 – 1918.10.09)

Born:	1846.01.30 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1874.07.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1896.10.25
Died:	1918.10.09 († 72)

Titular Bishop of Polemonium (1896.03.30 – 1918.10.09)

Vicar Apostolic of Archipelago of the Navigators (Samoa) (1896.03.30 – 1918.10.09)

Bishop Jean-Amand Lamaze, S.M.
(Apostolic Administrator 1879.05.07 – 1896)

Bishop Aloys Elloy, S.M.
(Apostolic Administrator 1870 – 1878.11.22)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Patrick Vincent Hurley, C.SS.R. (1981.11.05 – 1992.05.22)