Archdiocese of Port Moresby

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of New Guinea
  • Erected: 10 May 1889
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Papua New Guinea

• Vicariate Apostolic of Papua
  • 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

Statistics

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

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Brian James Barnes, O.F.M. (Archbishop: 14 Jun 1997 to 26 Mar 2008)
• John Ribat, M.S.C. (Coadjutor Archbishop: 16 Apr 2007; Archbishop: 26 Mar 2008)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Virgil Patrick Copas, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Dec 1959; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 19 Dec 1975)
• Cherubim 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)