Diocese of Tonga, Tonga

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Tonga / Tongan(us) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1842.08.23: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Central Oceania (from Apostolic Vicariate of Western Oceania)
1847.07.23: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle-Calédonie
1850.08.20: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Archipelago of the Navigators
1863.03.27: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Fiji Island
1935.11.11: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Wallis et Futuna
1937.04.13: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Tonga Islands (English) / Isole Tonga (Italiano) / Insularum Tonga (Latin)
1957.03.22: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Tonga Islands and Niue (English) / Isole Tonga e Niue (Italiano)
1966.06.21: Promoted as Diocese of Tonga / Tongan(us) (Latin) (lost territory to Diocese of Rarotonga and without ecclesiastical province)
1972.05.13: Lost territory to Diocese of Rarotonga

Present Prelates

Bishop (2008.04.18 – ...):

Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi (62)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Paola Romana

Ordinaries

Bishops of Tonga (Roman Rite)

Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi (62)
(2008.04.18 – ...)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Paola Romana
Bishop of Tonga (Tonga)

Ke loloto e tui

Born:	1961.12.19 (Nuku’alofa, Tonga)
Ordained Priest:	1991.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.10.04
Created Cardinal:	2015.02.14

Priest of Tonga (Tonga) (1991.06.29 – 2007.06.28)

Coadjutor Bishop of Tonga (Tonga) (2007.06.28 – 2008.04.18)

Bishop of Tonga (Tonga) (2008.04.18 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (2010.06 – 2016.09)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Paola Romana (2015.02.14 [2015.12.05] – ...)

Bishop Soane Lilo Foliaki, S.M.
(1994.06.10 – 2008.04.18)

Born:	1933.04.18 (Tonga)
Ordained Priest:	1955.07.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.06.23
Died:	2013.12.24 († 80)

Bishop of Tonga (Tonga) (1994.06.10 – 2008.04.18)

President of Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (1999 – 2002)

Bishop Patelisio Punou-Ki-Hihifo Finau, S.M.
(1972.04.07 – 1993.10.04)

Born:	1934.03.15 (Tonga)
Ordained Priest:	1959.07.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1972.02.13
Died:	1993.10.04 († 59)

Titular Bishop of Aurusuliana (1971.10.15 – 1972.04.07)

Coadjutor Bishop of Tonga (Tonga) (1971.10.15 – 1972.04.07)

Bishop of Tonga (Tonga) (1972.04.07 – 1993.10.04)

President of Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (1978 – 1982)

Bishop John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S.M.
(1966.06.21 – 1972.04.07)

Born:	1915.10.09 (New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1940.12.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1954.02.11
Died:	1997.01.10 († 81)

Vicar Apostolic of Tonga Islands (Tonga) (1953.06.29 – 1957.03.22)

Titular Bishop of Sbida (1953.06.29 – 1966.06.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Tonga Islands and Niue (Tonga) (1957.03.22 – 1966.06.21)

Bishop of Tonga (Tonga) (1966.06.21 – 1972.04.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (1971 – 1973.03.01)

Titular Bishop of Caput Cilla (1972.04.07 – 1973.03.01)

Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (1973.03.01 – 1977.03.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland (New Zealand) (1977.03.21 – 1985)

Titular Bishop of Nigizubi (1977.03.21 – 1997.01.10)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Funafuti (Tuvalu) (1985.08.07 – 1986.07.14)

Vicars Apostolic of Tonga Islands and Niue (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S.M.
(1957.03.22 – 1966.06.21)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Tonga Islands (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S.M.
(1953.06.29 – 1957.03.22)

(see above)

Bishop Joseph-Felix Blanc, S.M.
(1937.04.13 – 1952)

Born:	1872.03.26 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1895.06.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1912.06.29
Died:	1962.06.08 († 90)

Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania (Tonga) (1912.02.17 – 1937.04.13)

Titular Bishop of Dibon (1912.02.17 – 1962.06.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Tonga Islands (Tonga) (1937.04.13 – 1952)

Vicars Apostolic of Central Oceania (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph-Felix Blanc, S.M.
(1912.02.17 – 1937.04.13)

(see above)

Bishop Armand Olier, S.M.
(1906.09.09 – 1911.09.17)

Born:	1851.05.06 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1880.08.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1904.04.17
Died:	1911.09.17 († 60)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania (Tonga) (1903.12.22 – 1906.09.09)

Titular Bishop of Tipasa (1903.12.22 – 1911.09.17)

Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania (Tonga) (1906.09.09 – 1911.09.17)

Bishop Jean-Amand Lamaze, S.M.
(1879.05.09 – 1906.09.09)

Born:	1833.03.27 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1857.05.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1879.12.21
Died:	1906.09.09 († 73)

Apostolic Administrator of Archipelago of the Navigators (Samoa) (1879.05.07 – 1896)

Titular Bishop of Olimpus (1879.05.09 – 1906.09.09)

Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania (Tonga) (1879.05.09 – 1906.09.09)

Bishop Aloys Elloy, S.M.
(1872 – 1878.11.22)

Born:	1829.11.29 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1853.06.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1864.11.30
Died:	1878.11.22 († 48)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania (Tonga) (1863.08.09 – 1872)

Titular Bishop of Tipasa (1863.08.09 – 1878.11.22)

Apostolic Administrator of Archipelago of the Navigators (Samoa) (1870 – 1878.11.22)

Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania (Tonga) (1872 – 1878.11.22)

Bishop Pierre Bataillon, S.M.
(1842.11.22 – 1863)

Born:	1810.12.05 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1835.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1843.12.03
Died:	1877.04.11 († 66)

Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania (Tonga) (1842.11.22 – 1863)

Titular Bishop of Ænos (1842.11.22 – 1877.04.11)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Soane Patita Paini Mafi (62) (later Cardinal) (2007.06.28 – 2008.04.18)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Patelisio Punou-Ki-Hihifo Finau, S.M. (1971.10.15 – 1972.04.07)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Armand Olier, S.M. (1903.12.22 – 1906.09.09)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Aloys Elloy, S.M. (1863.08.09 – 1872)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Guillaume Maria Douarre, S.M. (1841.09.08 – 1847.07.13)