Diocese of Tonga Dioecesis Tongana | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms of the diocese | |
| Location | |
| Country | Tonga |
| Territory | Tonga and Niue |
| Ecclesiastical province | Immediately exempt to the Holy See |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 947 km2 (366 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2011) 104,660 17,000 (7.6%) |
| Parishes | 14 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 12 June 1966 |
| Cathedral | St. Mary's Cathedral (Tongan: Malia Tupu Imakulata) |
| Patron saint | The Immaculate Conception |
| Secular priests | 38 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Soane Patita Paini Mafi, Bishop of Tonga, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Paola Romana |
| Bishops emeritus | Soane Lilo Foliaki, S.M. |
| Map | |
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The Diocese of Tonga (Latin: Dioecesis Tongana) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Tonga. It was erected as part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania in 1842, had subsequent name changes in 1937 and 1957 before being elevated to the Diocese of Tonga on June 21, 1966.[1] Its cathedra is found in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Tongan: Malia Tupu 'Imākulata) in the capital Nuku'alofa. It is immediately exempt to the Holy See and not part of an ecclesiastical province.
On 4 January 2015, Pope Francis announced that he would make Tonga's bishop, Soane Patita Paini Mafi, a cardinal on 14 February of that year.[2][3]
- ^ Cheney, David M. "Tonga (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "Annuncio di Concistoro per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ Matangi, Tonga online (2015-02-16). "Tongans celebrate first Cardinal". Matangi Tonga. Retrieved 2018-02-04.