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Diocese of Port-Vila Dioecesis Portus Vilensis Diocèse de Port-Vila
Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, Port Vila
Location
Country	Vanuatu
Ecclesiastical province	Nouméa
Metropolitan	Archdiocese of Nouméa
Statistics
Area	11,870 km (4,580 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2004) 205,000 29,500 (14,4%)
Information
Denomination	Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	9 February 1901 (As Prefecture Apostolic of New Hebrides) 22 March 1904 (As Vicariate Apostolic of New Hebrides) 21 June 1966 (As Diocese of Port-Vila)
Cathedral	Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Port-Vila
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Jean Bosco Baremes
Metropolitan Archbishop	Michel-Marie-Bernard Calvet

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Vila (Latin: Dioecesis Portus Vilensis; French: Diocèse de Port-Vila) in Vanuatu is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nouméa.

History

The first Catholic mission in Vanuatu was started in 1887 at Mele on Efate, by the Marist Father Le Forestier, three other Marist priests and a brother. The greatest growth of Catholic converts took place in the north, where the French influence was strong. This was especially true in Espiritu Santo and Malekula.

In 1901 it was first erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of New Hebrides, with Victor Douceré as apostolic prefect. In 1904 it became a Vicariate Apostolic. In 1966, it was elevated as the Diocese of Port-Vila.

Tropical Cyclone Pam, of March 2015, was the second most intense tropical cyclone of the south Pacific Ocean in terms of sustained winds and is regarded as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of Vanuatu. Bishop John Bosco Baremes worked with the Diocesan Disaster Committee and Caritas to identify and address key needs such as shelter, food, clean water, and protection of the poor and vulnerable.

Ordinaries

• Isidore-Marie-Victor Douceré (1901–1939)
• Jules Halbert (1939–1954)
• Louis-Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Julliard (1955–1976)
• Francis-Roland Lambert (1976–1996)
• Michel Visi (1996 – May 19, 2007)
• Jean Bosco Baremes (November 18, 2009 – present)

See also

• Catholic Church in Vanuatu

References

1. "Vanuatu". Oceania Marist Province/Province Mariste d'Océanie. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
2. "Douceré, Right Reverend Victor Isidore-Marie S.M.", The Catholic Encyclopedia and Its Makers, New York, the Encyclopedia Press, 1917, p. 46 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. Joshua Robertson (15 March 2015). "Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu awaits first wave of relief and news from worst-hit islands". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
4. Scullion, Annette. "Vanuatu rising again: Hope shines forth", WelCom, Wellington and Palmerston North Dioceses, March 30, 2015

External links and references

• Pacific News: Vanuatu Bishop Michel Visi Dies Aged 52
• "Diocese of Port-Vila". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2007-01-11.

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