History
Melanesia
During the pontificate of Pope Gregory XVI, the Apostolic Vicariate of Melanesia and Micronesia was established in 1844, initially entrusted to the Marist missionaries and later to the Italian PIME missionaries. The first attempts at evangelization on the islands of San Cristobal, Woodlark, and Rooke failed due to local hostility, tropical diseases, and the missionaries’ lack of experience. Several missionaries, such as Bishop Jean-Baptiste Épalle and Giovanni Mazzucconi, were killed. After the missionaries’ withdrawal in 1855, the vicariate remained vacant until 1880, when French priest René-Marie Lannuzel resumed missionary work in New Britain, beginning catechesis with the support of local leaders like To Litur. [2] [3] [4]
From the late 19th century onwards, with the support of congregations like the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the Society of the Divine Word, Catholicism expanded in Papua and New Guinea, despite challenges such as massacres, wars, and occupations. Key figures included Bishop Alain de Boismenu and the martyred catechist Peter To Rot, who was beatified in 1995 and canonized in 2025. In the 20th century, the Church became involved in education, healthcare, and the formation of local clergy, culminating in the appointment of the first Papuan cardinal, John Ribat, in 2016. Today, the Catholic Church remains active in the country, addressing social issues such as domestic violence, sorcery, and climate change. [5] [6] [7]
Micronesia
The presence of the Catholic Church in Kiribati began when local residents who had worked in Tahiti returned and invited the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) from France to settle in the country. In 1897, the Catholic Church established the Vicariate of the Gilbert Islands, separating it from the Vicariate of Micronesia, under the leadership of Bishop Joseph Leray. Over time, the missionary work expanded throughout the islands despite geographic and cultural challenges. In 1966, the vicariate was elevated to the Diocese of Tarawa, and in 1978 it became the Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru, and Funafuti, undergoing further reorganization in 1982. [8] [9] [10]
In 1979, Bishop Paul Mea, MSC, was ordained bishop of the diocese and played a key role in evangelization and strengthening the local Church. The Sacred Heart Cathedral, located in Teaoraereke on South Tarawa Island, is now the main Catholic center in the country. The Catholic Church in Kiribati has played an important role in the spiritual and social formation of the population and remains active to this day through pastoral missions and community outreach. [8] [9] [10]
On April 28, 1891, Spanish Capuchin missionaries arrived to start a permanent Catholic presence in Palau. [11]
Christianity arrived in Nauru at the end of the 19th century, brought by a Catholic missionary and a Congregational minister, religions that still dominate the island. The Catholic Church established the Apostolic Vicariate of the Gilbert Islands in 1897, to which Nauru was connected. In 1966, this vicariate was elevated to the Diocese of Tarawa, and in 1978, it was renamed the Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru, and Funafuti. In 1982, Funafuti was separated as a sui iuris mission, and the Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru remained. Bishop Paul Mea, MSC, was ordained in 1979 and led the diocese until he was succeeded by Koru Tito in 2020. In 2023, the bishopric was vacant. The Catholic Church remains present in Nauru, especially in education and missionary work. In 2020, there were four priests and three sisters serving in the country's only parish, and Christmas and Easter are official religious holidays. [12] [13] [14]
Catholicism in Guam was a product of centuries of Spanish colonial control as the island was part of the Spanish East Indies until 1898, when the United States acquired it after the Spanish–American War. [15]
On October 14, 1965, the vicariate apostolic was raised to a diocese. [16] The first supreme pontiff to visit the island was Pope John Paul II in 1981. [16] Guam has been sending delegations of young people to World Youth Day since 1993. [17]
Polynesia
Before the arrival of Europeans, the islands of Wallis and Futuna practiced a Polynesian polytheistic religion. The French were the first to settle in the region, with the arrival of missionaries in 1837, who converted the population to Catholicism. The responsibility for evangelizing Oceania was initially given to the Society of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1825, and the western portion was entrusted to the Society of Mary in 1836. Monsignor Jean Baptiste Pompallier was appointed apostolic vicar of Western Oceania and began the evangelization, including the creation of the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Oceania in 1842. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]
Saint Peter Chanel, a Marist missionary, arrived on Futuna Island in 1837 and was martyred in 1841 by order of the local king, who feared losing his priestly power with the adoption of Christianity. Despite the martyrdom, the mission continued with new missionaries, and eventually, the majority of the island's population converted to Catholicism. In 1887, France established a protectorate over Wallis and Futuna, and in 1935, the Apostolic Vicariate was created, becoming a diocese in 1966. Today, the Catholic Church continues to have a strong influence in the region, especially in education, and the islands remain a French territory with local administration. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]
Australasia
Since time immemorial, the Indigenous peoples of Australia practiced animistic religious rituals known as the Dreamtime. The first Catholic presence in the region dates back to 1606, when the Spanish expedition led by Pedro Fernandez de Quirós sighted Australia. With the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships in 1788, Catholicism became permanently established in the colony. About one-tenth of the convicts brought to Australia were Catholic, mostly of Irish descent, and the first Mass was celebrated in 1803 by Father James Dixon. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38]
During World War II, the Australian-administered Territory of New Guinea was invaded by Japanese forces. Several Catholic martyrs, such as Bishop Leo Scharmach and the FMI Sisters, played crucial roles in saving prisoners of war and keeping the faith alive under extreme oppression. Peter To Rot, an Indigenous man from Rabaul, was also martyred for continuing to celebrate the Catholic faith in secret, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995 in recognition of his courage and resistance. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38]
After World War II, the Catholic Church in Australia underwent a major transformation, becoming more diverse with the arrival of immigrants from European and Asian countries. This was reflected in the political loyalties of Catholics, with the formation of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) to oppose communism and support for the Liberal Party, which secured state support for Catholic schools. Over time, the Church saw a decline in sectarian loyalty, and many Catholics became engaged with conservative parties like the Liberal Party. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38]
In the post-Vatican II period, the Catholic Church in Australia experienced a decline in religious vocations, but there was a rise in lay leadership, especially in education and healthcare. The Church also dealt with a crisis of sexual abuse, adopting reparative measures like the Towards Healing document. The Catholic Church also became involved in social issues, such as defending the rights of Indigenous Australians and young people in vulnerable situations, through initiatives like Father Ted Kennedy's and the Youth Off The Streets organization. The Church played a significant role in education, founding schools and hospitals, and invested in missions among the Aboriginal peoples, although government assimilation policies had negative impacts on Indigenous rights. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40]
