Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby explained
The Archdiocese of Port Moresby (Latin: Archidiœcesis Portus Moresbiensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea. Its cathedral is in St. Mary's Cathedral, in Port Moresby, National Capital District.
History
- Established on 10 May 1889 as Apostolic Vicariate of New Guinea on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Melanesia.
- Renamed on 1922.11.14 as Apostolic Vicariate of Papua
- Renamed on 1946.06.13 as Apostolic Vicariate of Port Moresby, having lost territory to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Samarai (now suffragan diocese Alotau-Sideia)
- Lost territory on 1958.11.13 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Mendi
- Lost territories on 1959.07.16 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Yule Island and the Apostolic Prefecture of Daru (now suffragan Diocese of Daru-Kiunga)
- Promoted on 1966.11.15 as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Port Moresby
- It enjoyed papal visits from Pope John Paul II in May 1984.05 and January 1995.
Bishops
Ordinaries
- Apostolic Vicars of New Guinea
- Apostolic Vicar Papua
- Apostolic Vicars Port Moresby
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Port Moresby
- Virgil Patrick Copas, M.S.C. (see above 1966.11.15 – retired 1975.12.19), also Apostolic Administrator of suffragan see Bereina (Papua New Guinea) (1973 – 1976.03.01); later Archbishop-Bishop of Kerema (Papua New Guinea) (1976.05.24 – retired 1988.12.06); died 1993.10.03
- Herman To Paivu (1975.12.19 – death 1981.02.12), former Titular Bishop of Temuniana (1974.07.01 – 1975.12.19) & Auxiliary Bishop of Port Moresby (1974.07.01 – 1975.12.19)
- Peter Kurongku (1981.10.03 – death 1996.06.11); previously Titular Bishop of Sinnuara (1978.11.15 – 1981.10.03) & Auxiliary Bishop of Honiara (Solomon Islands) (1978.11.15 – 1981.10.03)
- Brian James Barnes, Friars Minor (O.F.M.) (14 June 1997 – 26 March 2008), previously Bishop of Aitape (Papua New Guinea) (1987.10.03 – 1997.06.14), President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (1993 – 1994); died 2017.05.09
- Sir John Ribat, KBE, M.S.C. (26 March 2008 - ...), also Cardinal (19 November 2016 - ...), President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (2011.05 – 2014.05), President of Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (2014.05 – ...); previously Titular Bishop of Macriana minor (2000.10.30 – 2002.02.12) & Auxiliary Bishop of Bereina (Papua New Guinea) (2000.10.30 – 2002.02.12), succeeded as Bishop of Bereina (2002.02.12 – 2007.04.16), then Coadjutor Archbishop of Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) (2007.04.16 – 2008.03.26)
Coadjutor bishops
- Stanislas Henri Verjus, M.S.C. (1889–1892), as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic; did not succeed to see
- Alain Guynot de Boismenu, M.S.C. (1899–1908), as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic
- John Ribat, M.S.C. (2007–2008); future Cardinal
Auxiliary bishops
Province
Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own archdiocese and the following suffragan dioceses :
References
Sources and external links
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