Catholic Church in Vanuatu

The Catholic Church in Vanuatu is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Catholics constitute 13% of the population of Vanuatu in 2022.[1] The church is organized into one diocese based in the capital of Port Vila.[2]

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Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Port Vila

The diocese is a member of the Pacific Bishops Conference.[3]

History

The first ever mass in Oceania was performed on May 14, 1606, when Spanish explorer Pedro de Quiros landed on Espiritu Santo with four priests and eight brothers, some of which were Franciscans and St John of God, and celebrated Pentecost.[4]

In 1875 mostly Catholic Tannese settlers wrote to the French government asking that the islands be claimed by France.[5] A permanent mission of the Marist Fathers was established with considerable difficulty in 1887.[6] The mission in Port Vila developed rapidly in the next twenty years.[7]

The islands' first native named bishop, Michel Visi, was named at April 12, 1997 and served till his death in 2007.[8] An ambassador to the Holy See, Michel Rittie was chosen for the first time in 2003.[9]

Bishop Jean Bosco Baremes has served as Bishop of Port Vila since 2009.[10]

Vanuatu sent a delegation of young people for the first time to World Youth Day 2008 when it was held in Sydney, Australia.[11]

See also

References
  1. US State Dept 2022 report
  2. G Catholic website, Diocese page, retrieved 2023-08-28
  3. Catholic Australia website, retrieved 2023-08-28
  4. Lyndsay Freer (August 4, 2006). "Large gathering of Catholic bishops meeting in Fiji". Catholic Communications New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  5. "Colonial History of Vanuatu". Vanuatu Tourism. January 1, 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  6. Garrett, John (1992). Footsteps in the Sea: Christianity in Oceania to World War II. Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies. p. 100. ISBN 9820200687.
  7. Douceré, V. (1911). "New Hebrides". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  8. Radio New Zealand website, article by Len Garae dated May 22, 2007
  9. Vatican website, Libreria Editrice Vaticana dated May 15,2003
  10. G Catholic website, Dioceses and Bishops page, retrieved 2023-08-28
  11. "Oceania Plans Bigger Turnout for Youth Day '08". Zenit News Agency. September 8, 2006. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-09.


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