Vanimo (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Francis Meli, Bishop
Cesare Bonivento, P.I.M.E., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 15 November 1966
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madang
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Papua New Guinea
Square Kilometers: 26,000 (10,042 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 205, Sec. 47, Lot 1, Transmitter, Vanimo, Sandaun Province 551, Papua New Guinea
Telephone: 7075-2851

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Vanimo
- Latin Name: Uanimitana
- Erected: 13 September 1963
- Country: Papua New Guinea

Past and Present Ordinaries

Paschal Sweeney, C.P. † (20 Sep 1963 Appointed - 22 Sep 1979 Resigned)
John Etheridge, C.P. † (24 Apr 1980 Appointed - 7 Feb 1989 Resigned)
Cesare Bonivento, P.I.M.E. (21 Dec 1991 Appointed - 5 Feb 2018 Retired)
Francis Meli (5 Feb 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Vanimo
13 September 1963	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Aitape (Western Part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Vanimo (erected)
Diocese of Vanimo
15 November 1966	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Vanimo	Diocese of Vanimo

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

Diocese of Vanimo

1969 4,658 35,643 13.1% 1 9 10 465 12 4 8 ap1971

1980 8,500 39,550 21.5% 9 9 944 13 9 9 ap1981

1990 14,570 59,600 24.4% 9 9 1,618 19 5 9 ap1991

1999 27,000 90,000 30.0% 6 15 21 1,285 23 21 10 ap2000

2000 27,800 91,800 30.3% 6 18 24 1,158 1 27 25 12 ap2001

2001 28,860 92,900 31.1% 6 16 22 1,311 19 21 10 ap2002

2002 27,800 91,800 30.3% 5 17 22 1,263 21 22 11 ap2003

2003 28,750 93,200 30.8% 6 20 26 1,105 24 30 11 ap2004

2004 32,000 95,000 33.7% 7 19 26 1,230 23 29 11 ap2005

2010 38,177 104,000 36.7% 26 26 1,468 27 20 15 ap2011

2014 35,500 101,000 35.1% 3 18 21 1,690 20 21 13 ap2015

2017 38,476 114,220 33.7% 14 22 36 1,068 22 24 13 ap2018

2020 38,911 113,191 34.4% 6 17 23 1,691 18 23 19 ap2021

2022 41,266 123,391 33.4% 6 17 23 1,794 18 24 23 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Vanimo
1969	4,658	35,643	13.1%	1	9	10	465		12	4	8	ap1971
1980	8,500	39,550	21.5%		9	9	944		13	9	9	ap1981
1990	14,570	59,600	24.4%		9	9	1,618		19	5	9	ap1991
1999	27,000	90,000	30.0%	6	15	21	1,285		23	21	10	ap2000
2000	27,800	91,800	30.3%	6	18	24	1,158	1	27	25	12	ap2001
2001	28,860	92,900	31.1%	6	16	22	1,311		19	21	10	ap2002
2002	27,800	91,800	30.3%	5	17	22	1,263		21	22	11	ap2003
2003	28,750	93,200	30.8%	6	20	26	1,105		24	30	11	ap2004
2004	32,000	95,000	33.7%	7	19	26	1,230		23	29	11	ap2005
2010	38,177	104,000	36.7%		26	26	1,468		27	20	15	ap2011
2014	35,500	101,000	35.1%	3	18	21	1,690		20	21	13	ap2015
2017	38,476	114,220	33.7%	14	22	36	1,068		22	24	13	ap2018
2020	38,911	113,191	34.4%	6	17	23	1,691		18	23	19	ap2021
2022	41,266	123,391	33.4%	6	17	23	1,794		18	24	23	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Cesare Bonivento, P.I.M.E. (Bishop: 21 Dec 1991 to 5 Feb 2018)
Francis Meli (Bishop: 5 Feb 2018 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

John Etheridge, C.P. † (Bishop: 24 Apr 1980 to 7 Feb 1989)
Paschal Sweeney, C.P. † (Prefect: 20 Sep 1963; Bishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 22 Sep 1979)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Vanimo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 56, Page 551, and Page 552
Diocese of Vanimo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 480, to Page 482

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Diocese of Vanimo

Dioecesis Uanimitana