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Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Vila

Coordinates: 17°44′05″S 168°19′19″E / 17.73472°S 168.32194°E / -17.73472; 168.32194
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Diocese of Port-Vila

Dioecesis Portus Vilensis

Diocèse de Port-Vila
Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, Port Vila
Location
Country Vanuatu
Ecclesiastical provinceNouméa
MetropolitanArchdiocese of Nouméa
Statistics
Area11,870 km2 (4,580 sq mi)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2004)
  • 205,000
  • 29,500 (14,4%)
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established9 February 1901 (As Prefecture Apostolic of New Hebrides)
22 March 1904 (As Vicariate Apostolic of New Hebrides)
21 June 1966 (As Diocese of Port-Vila)
CathedralCathedral of the Sacred Heart in Port-Vila
Current leadership
PopeLeo XIV
BishopJean Bosco Baremes
Metropolitan ArchbishopSusitino Sionepoe

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Vila (Latin: Dioecesis Portus Vilensis; French: Diocèse de Port-Vila) in Vanuatu is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nouméa. The diocese covers the whole island of Vanuatu.

History

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The first Catholic mission in Vanuatu was started in 1887 at Mele on Efate, by the Marist Father Le Forestier, three other Marist priests and a brother. The greatest growth of Catholic converts took place in the north, where the French influence was strong. This was especially true in Espiritu Santo and Malekula.[1]

In 1901 it was first erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of New Hebrides (Insularum Novarum Ebridarum), with Victor Douceré as apostolic prefect.[2] On 22 March 1904 it became a Vicariate Apostolic. In 1966, it was elevated as the Diocese of Port-Vila by Pope Paul VI.[3][4]

The diocese is managed by Bishop John Bosco Baremes, and falls under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nouméa, which is led by Archbishop Susitino Sionepoe.[5]

Tropical Cyclone Pam, of March 2015, was the second most intense tropical cyclone of the south Pacific Ocean in terms of sustained winds and is regarded as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of Vanuatu.[6] Bishop John Bosco Baremes worked with the Diocesan Disaster Committee and Caritas to identify and address key needs such as shelter, food, clean water, leading the response to the cyclone and ensuring the protection of the poor and vulnerable.[7]

Ordinaries

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Vanuatu". Oceania Marist Province/Province Mariste d'Océanie. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Douceré, Right Reverend Victor Isidore-Marie S.M.", The Catholic Encyclopedia and Its Makers, New York, the Encyclopedia Press, 1917, p. 46Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Retrieved 4 July 2025
  3. ^ "Port-Vila (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Dioecesis Portus Vilensis erecta (Portus Vilensis (antea Vicariatu Apostolico Insularum Novarum Ebridarum))" (PDF). Acta Apostolicae Sedis (in Latin). 59 (3): 201–203. 1967. ISSN 0001-6357.
  5. ^ "Nouméa". gcatholic. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  6. ^ Joshua Robertson (15 March 2015). "Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu awaits first wave of relief and news from worst-hit islands". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  7. ^ Scullion, Annette. "Vanuatu rising again: Hope shines forth", WelCom, Wellington and Palmerston North Dioceses, March 30, 2015 Retrieved 4 July 2025
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17°44′05″S 168°19′19″E / 17.73472°S 168.32194°E / -17.73472; 168.32194

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