Rabaul (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Rochus Josef Tatamai, M.S.C., Archbishop
Francesco Panfilo, S.D.B., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 15 November 1966
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Papua New Guinea
Square Kilometers: 19,320 (7,462 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://archdioceseofrabaul.com/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 357, Kokopo 613, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea
Telephone: 98.28.344
Fax: 98.28.404

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of New Britain
- Erected: 10 May 1889
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania
- Latin Name: Novae Pomeraniae
- Name Changed: 8 December 1890
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Rabaul
- Latin Name: Rabaulensis
- Name Changed: 14 November 1922
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea

Past and Present Ordinaries

Stanislas Henri Verjus, M.S.C. † (10 May 1889 Appointed - 28 Dec 1889 Appointed, Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of New Guinea)
Louis Couppé, M.S.C. † (28 Dec 1889 Appointed - 1923 Resigned)
Gerard Vesters, M.S.C. † (16 Feb 1923 Appointed - 1939 Resigned)
Leo Isidore Scharmach, M.S.C. † (13 Jun 1939 Appointed - 6 Aug 1962 Resigned)
Johannes Höhne, M.S.C. † (1 Mar 1963 Appointed - 27 May 1978 Died)
Albert-Leo Bundervoet, M.S.C. † (6 Mar 1980 Appointed - 16 Aug 1989 Died)
Karl Bernhard Hesse, M.S.C. † (7 Jul 1990 Appointed - 11 Aug 2011 Retired)
Francesco Panfilo, S.D.B. (11 Aug 2011 Succeeded - 19 Jun 2020 Retired)
Rochus Josef Tatamai, M.S.C. (19 Jun 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of New Britain
10 May 1889	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Melanesia Vicariate Apostolic of Micronesia	Vicariate Apostolic of New Britain (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania
8 December 1890	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of New Britain	Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania
27 July 1897	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania	Prefecture Apostolic of English Solomon Islands (erected)
23 May 1898	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania	Prefecture Apostolic of German Solomon Islands (erected)
20 September 1905	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania	Vicariate Apostolic of Marshall Islands (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Rabaul
14 November 1922	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania	Vicariate Apostolic of Rabaul
5 July 1957	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Rabaul (Island of New Ireland with the islands commonly known as the Duke of York, the island of New Hanover, the Admiralty islands with the rest which are adjacent)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kavieng (erected)
Archdiocese of Rabaul
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Rabaul	Archdiocese of Rabaul
4 July 2003	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Rabaul (New Britain (East and West))	Diocese of Kimbe (erected)

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

Archdiocese of Rabaul

1970 100,638 150,000 67.1% 3 58 61 1,649 111 227 45 ap1971

1980 140,300 205,000 68.4% 4 48 52 2,698 92 226 46 ap1981

1990 164,000 269,000 61.0% 14 50 64 2,562 78 216 75 ap1991

1999 221,300 404,300 54.7% 25 42 67 3,302 69 142 44 ap2000

2000 224,840 411,790 54.6% 31 38 69 3,258 89 131 44 ap2001

2001 227,250 418,500 54.3% 29 37 66 3,443 88 122 44 ap2002

2002 233,450 419,450 55.7% 30 36 66 3,537 82 141 44 ap2003

2003 110,000 180,000 61.1% 18 9 27 4,074 38 19 18 ap2004

2004 131,500 235,600 55.8% 22 27 49 2,683 95 135 29 ap2005

2010 149,870 285,540 52.5% 36 24 60 2,497 51 135 33 ap2011

2014 159,480 308,600 51.7% 47 19 66 2,416 48 117 35 ap2015

2017 155,407 354,004 43.9% 47 20 67 2,319 38 128 38 ap2018

2020 178,652 384,952 46.4% 54 14 68 2,627 26 121 41 ap2021

2022 187,500 405,000 46.3% 57 14 71 2,640 26 121 41 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Rabaul
1970	100,638	150,000	67.1%	3	58	61	1,649	111	227	45	ap1971
1980	140,300	205,000	68.4%	4	48	52	2,698	92	226	46	ap1981
1990	164,000	269,000	61.0%	14	50	64	2,562	78	216	75	ap1991
1999	221,300	404,300	54.7%	25	42	67	3,302	69	142	44	ap2000
2000	224,840	411,790	54.6%	31	38	69	3,258	89	131	44	ap2001
2001	227,250	418,500	54.3%	29	37	66	3,443	88	122	44	ap2002
2002	233,450	419,450	55.7%	30	36	66	3,537	82	141	44	ap2003
2003	110,000	180,000	61.1%	18	9	27	4,074	38	19	18	ap2004
2004	131,500	235,600	55.8%	22	27	49	2,683	95	135	29	ap2005
2010	149,870	285,540	52.5%	36	24	60	2,497	51	135	33	ap2011
2014	159,480	308,600	51.7%	47	19	66	2,416	48	117	35	ap2015
2017	155,407	354,004	43.9%	47	20	67	2,319	38	128	38	ap2018
2020	178,652	384,952	46.4%	54	14	68	2,627	26	121	41	ap2021
2022	187,500	405,000	46.3%	57	14	71	2,640	26	121	41	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Albert-Leo Bundervoet, M.S.C. † (Archbishop: 6 Mar 1980 to 16 Aug 1989)
Alphonse Liguori Chaupa † (Priest: 10 Jan 1987; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jun 2000 to 4 Jul 2003)
Louis Couppé, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Dec 1889 to 1923)
John Doaninoel, S.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Dec 2007 to 9 Jun 2011)
Karl Bernhard Hesse, M.S.C. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Apr 1978 to 24 Oct 1980; Archbishop: 7 Jul 1990 to 11 Aug 2011)
Johannes Höhne, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1 Mar 1963; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 27 May 1978)
Leo Isidore Scharmach, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jun 1939 to 6 Aug 1962)
Patrick Taval, M.S.C. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Jun 1999 to 6 Dec 2007)
George To Bata † (Priest: 15 Nov 1953; Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Apr 1978 to 7 Mar 1995)
Herman To Paivu † (Priest: 15 Nov 1953 to 1 Jul 1974)
Benedict To Varpin † (Priest: 24 Jan 1971 to 30 Oct 1979)
Stanislas Henri Verjus, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 May 1889 to 28 Dec 1889)
Gerard Vesters, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 16 Feb 1923 to 1939)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Rabaul
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 14, Page 646, and Page 647
Archdiocese of Rabaul
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 480, to Page 482

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Archdiocese of Rabaul

Archidioecesis Rabaulensis