Port Moresby (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

John Ribat, M.S.C., Cardinal, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 15 November 1966
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Papua New Guinea
Square Kilometers: 29,874 (11,538 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 1032, Boroko, National Capital District 111, Papua New Guinea
Telephone: 325-1192
Fax: 325-6731

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of New Guinea
- Latin Name: de Novae Guineae
- Erected: 10 May 1889
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Papua
- Latin Name: Papuasiae
- Name Changed: 14 November 1922
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby
- Latin Name: Portus Moresbiensis
- Name Changed: 13 June 1946
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea

Past and Present Ordinaries

Louis-André Navarre, M.S.C. † (10 May 1889 Appointed - Jan 1908 Resigned)
Alain Guynot de Boismenu, M.S.C. † (Jan 1908 Succeeded - 18 Jan 1945 Retired)
André Sorin, M.S.C. † (13 Jun 1946 Appointed - 19 Apr 1959 Died)
Virgil Patrick Copas, M.S.C. † (19 Dec 1959 Appointed - 19 Dec 1975 Resigned)
Herman To Paivu † (19 Dec 1975 Appointed - 12 Feb 1981 Died)
Peter Kurongku † (3 Oct 1981 Appointed - 11 Jun 1996 Died)
Brian James Barnes, O.F.M. † (14 Jun 1997 Appointed - 26 Mar 2008 Retired)
John Ribat, M.S.C. (26 Mar 2008 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of New Guinea
10 May 1889	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Melanesia	Vicariate Apostolic of New Guinea (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Papua
14 November 1922	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of New Guinea	Vicariate Apostolic of Papua
29 March 1938	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Papua (Parts in the State of Queensland) Diocese of Victoria-Palmerston	Diocese of Darwin
13 June 1946	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Papua (Eastern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Samarai (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby
13 June 1946	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Papua	Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby
13 November 1958	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby	Prefecture Apostolic of Mendi (erected)
16 July 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby (Kairuku, Goilala, Kerema, and Orokolo)	Vicariate Apostolic of Yule Island (erected)
16 July 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby	Prefecture Apostolic of Daru (erected)
Archdiocese of Port Moresby
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby	Archdiocese of Port Moresby
10 August 1968	Territory Added		Diocese of Bereina Archdiocese of Port Moresby

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby

1950 25,594 220,000 11.6% 1 47 48 533 63 103 4 ap1951

Archdiocese of Port Moresby

1969 13,400 196,000 6.8% 27 27 496 52 57 12 ap1971

1980 32,000 243,886 13.1% 7 45 52 615 2 140 147 15 ap1981

1990 74,000 292,000 25.3% 20 39 59 1,254 139 137 23 ap1991

1999 137,820 462,767 29.8% 13 42 55 2,505 125 123 23 ap2000

2000 158,883 476,650 33.3% 14 41 55 2,888 115 125 23 ap2001

2001 160,790 482,370 33.3% 12 39 51 3,152 93 137 23 ap2002

2002 163,201 494,429 33.0% 9 58 67 2,435 66 132 23 ap2003

2003 181,529 504,317 36.0% 11 57 68 2,669 66 161 23 ap2004

2004 183,889 512,386 35.9% 14 56 70 2,626 166 145 19 ap2005

2013 204,186 617,523 33.1% 6 82 88 2,320 255 152 19 ap2014

2016 207,623 655,319 31.7% 4 61 65 3,194 1 222 103 19 ap2017

2019 211,012 715,882 29.5% 4 49 53 3,981 224 126 19 ap2020

2021 224,200 760,560 29.5% 6 49 55 4,076 224 126 22 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby
1950	25,594	220,000	11.6%	1	47	48	533		63	103	4	ap1951
Archdiocese of Port Moresby
1969	13,400	196,000	6.8%		27	27	496		52	57	12	ap1971
1980	32,000	243,886	13.1%	7	45	52	615	2	140	147	15	ap1981
1990	74,000	292,000	25.3%	20	39	59	1,254		139	137	23	ap1991
1999	137,820	462,767	29.8%	13	42	55	2,505		125	123	23	ap2000
2000	158,883	476,650	33.3%	14	41	55	2,888		115	125	23	ap2001
2001	160,790	482,370	33.3%	12	39	51	3,152		93	137	23	ap2002
2002	163,201	494,429	33.0%	9	58	67	2,435		66	132	23	ap2003
2003	181,529	504,317	36.0%	11	57	68	2,669		66	161	23	ap2004
2004	183,889	512,386	35.9%	14	56	70	2,626		166	145	19	ap2005
2013	204,186	617,523	33.1%	6	82	88	2,320		255	152	19	ap2014
2016	207,623	655,319	31.7%	4	61	65	3,194	1	222	103	19	ap2017
2019	211,012	715,882	29.5%	4	49	53	3,981		224	126	19	ap2020
2021	224,200	760,560	29.5%	6	49	55	4,076		224	126	22	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Brian James Barnes, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 14 Jun 1997 to 26 Mar 2008)
Virgil Patrick Copas, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Dec 1959; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 19 Dec 1975)
Cherubim Alfred Dambui † (Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Oct 2000 to 24 Jun 2010)
Alain Guynot de Boismenu, M.S.C. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 10 Jun 1899; Vicar Apostolic: Jan 1908 to 18 Jan 1945)
Peter Kurongku † (Archbishop: 3 Oct 1981 to 11 Jun 1996)
Louis-André Navarre, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 May 1889 to Jan 1908)
André Sorin, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jun 1946 to 19 Apr 1959)
Herman To Paivu † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Jul 1974; Archbishop: 19 Dec 1975 to 12 Feb 1981)
Louis Vangeke, M.S.C. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Sep 1970 to 1 Mar 1976)
Stanislas Henri Verjus, M.S.C. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 28 Dec 1889 to 13 Nov 1892)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Papua
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 14, Page 646, and Page 647
Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 39, Page 82, and Page 83
Archdiocese of Port Moresby
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 480, to Page 482
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 60, Page 584, and Page 585

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Archdiocese of Port Moresby

Archidioecesis Portus Moresbiensis