Honiara (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Christopher Michael Cardone, O.P., Archbishop
Adrian Thomas Smith, S.M., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 15 November 1978
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Solomon Islands
Square Kilometers: 10,918 (4,217 Square Miles)
Cathederal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicArchdioceseOfHoniara
Mailing Address: Holy Cross, G.P.O. Box 237, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Telephone: 22.387

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of English Solomon Islands
- Erected: 27 July 1897
- Country: Solomon Islands
Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands
- Name Changed: 21 January 1904
- Country: Solomon Islands
Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands
- Latin Name: Insularum Salomonicarum Meridionalium
- Elevated: 1 June 1912
- Vicariate
- Country: Solomon Islands
Diocese of Honiara
- Latin Name: Honiarana
- Elevated: 15 November 1966
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Rabaul
- Country: Solomon Islands

Past and Present Ordinaries

Julien Vidal, S.M. † (Jul 1897 Appointed - 1903 Resigned)
Jean-Ephrem Bertreux, S.M. † (28 Aug 1903 Appointed - 4 Jan 1919 Died)
Louis-Marie Raucaz, S.M. † (13 Jul 1920 Appointed - 22 Jul 1934 Died)
Jean-Marie Aubin, S.M. † (8 Apr 1935 Appointed - 1958 Retired)
Daniel Willem Stuyvenberg, S.M. † (27 Nov 1958 Appointed - 3 Dec 1984 Retired)
Adrian Thomas Smith, S.M. (3 Dec 1984 Appointed - 22 Jun 2016 Retired)
Christopher Michael Cardone, O.P. (22 Jun 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of English Solomon Islands
27 July 1897	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania	Prefecture Apostolic of English Solomon Islands (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands
21 January 1904	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of English Solomon Islands	Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands
Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands
1 June 1912	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands	Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands
11 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Solomon Islands (Tresury, Shortlands and Choiseul and their neighbors, and Otong Java and their neighbors) Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands (Santa Isabel and the neighboring islands and New Georgia and the neighboring islands)	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Solomon Islands (erected)
Diocese of Honiara
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands	Diocese of Honiara
Archdiocese of Honiara
15 November 1978	Elevated	Diocese of Honiara	Archdiocese of Honiara
17 December 1982	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Honiara (Malaita District)	Diocese of Auki (erected)

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 Southern Solomon Islands

1950 15,234 88,000 17.3% 22 22 692 31 44 13 ap1951

Diocese of Honiara

1970 28,075 128,439 21.9% 5 40 45 623 62 123 7 ap1971

Archdiocese of Honiara

1980 41,900 214,000 19.6% 5 24 29 1,444 44 100 18 ap1981

1990 33,345 156,359 21.3% 5 17 22 1,515 36 77 13 ap1991

1999 38,936 214,139 18.2% 9 19 28 1,390 36 69 13 ap2000

2000 32,083 190,563 16.8% 10 21 31 1,034 43 64 13 ap2001

2001 40,434 183,254 22.1% 8 15 23 1,758 30 56 13 ap2002

2002 42,633 196,639 21.7% 13 19 32 1,332 26 58 11 ap2003

2003 43,826 199,060 22.0% 11 19 30 1,460 27 63 13 ap2004

2004 45,053 204,633 22.0% 15 23 38 1,185 31 69 13 ap2005

2006 47,762 210,514 22.7% 19 21 40 1,194 36 75 13 ap2007

2013 57,312 260,902 22.0% 19 21 40 1,432 35 76 13 ap2014

2016 61,400 276,000 22.2% 22 26 48 1,279 44 56 13 ap2017

2019 68,500 280,000 24.5% 19 30 49 1,397 70 75 14 ap2020

2021 65,783 292,000 22.5% 15 20 35 1,879 53 70 14 ap2022

2023 73,283 303,000 24.2% 20 19 39 1,879 50 76 14 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands
1950	15,234	88,000	17.3%		22	22	692	31	44	13	ap1951
Diocese of Honiara
1970	28,075	128,439	21.9%	5	40	45	623	62	123	7	ap1971
Archdiocese of Honiara
1980	41,900	214,000	19.6%	5	24	29	1,444	44	100	18	ap1981
1990	33,345	156,359	21.3%	5	17	22	1,515	36	77	13	ap1991
1999	38,936	214,139	18.2%	9	19	28	1,390	36	69	13	ap2000
2000	32,083	190,563	16.8%	10	21	31	1,034	43	64	13	ap2001
2001	40,434	183,254	22.1%	8	15	23	1,758	30	56	13	ap2002
2002	42,633	196,639	21.7%	13	19	32	1,332	26	58	11	ap2003
2003	43,826	199,060	22.0%	11	19	30	1,460	27	63	13	ap2004
2004	45,053	204,633	22.0%	15	23	38	1,185	31	69	13	ap2005
2006	47,762	210,514	22.7%	19	21	40	1,194	36	75	13	ap2007
2013	57,312	260,902	22.0%	19	21	40	1,432	35	76	13	ap2014
2016	61,400	276,000	22.2%	22	26	48	1,279	44	56	13	ap2017
2019	68,500	280,000	24.5%	19	30	49	1,397	70	75	14	ap2020
2021	65,783	292,000	22.5%	15	20	35	1,879	53	70	14	ap2022
2023	73,283	303,000	24.2%	20	19	39	1,879	50	76	14	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Jean-Marie Aubin, S.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Apr 1935 to 1958)
Jean-Ephrem Bertreux, S.M. † (Prefect: 28 Aug 1903; Vicar Apostolic: 2 Jun 1912 to 4 Jan 1919)
John Doaninoel, S.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Jun 2011 to 7 Aug 2018)
Peter Kurongku † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Nov 1978 to 3 Oct 1981)
Louis-Marie Raucaz, S.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jul 1920 to 22 Jul 1934)
Daniel Willem Stuyvenberg, S.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Nov 1958; Bishop: 15 Nov 1966; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1978 to 3 Dec 1984)
Julien Vidal, S.M. † (Prefect: Jul 1897 to 1903)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 4, Page 440, and Page 441
Diocese of Honiara
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 480, to Page 482
Archdiocese of Honiara
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 87, and Page 88

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