# Catholic Church in Tonga

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First mass in [Tonga](/source/Tonga), depicted on a glass-in-lead window of the Catholic Church of [Lapaha](/source/Lapaha).

The **Catholic Church in [Tonga](/source/Tonga)** is part of the worldwide [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) under the leadership of [its local bishop](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Tonga) in communion with the [Bishop of Rome](/source/Bishop_of_Rome). It is estimated that approximately 16% of the population of the Pacific island Kingdom are Catholic, being 15,767 in 2004.[1][1](https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71360.htm) Bishop [Soane Patita Paini Mafi](/source/Soane_Patita_Paini_Mafi) succeeded as Bishop of Tonga in 2008.[2]

## History

Prior to the arrival of European sailors and missionaries, the islands of Tonga practised an [animistic](/source/Animistic) [Polynesian](/source/Polynesian_culture) religion.[3] Responsibility for Oceania was given by the Catholic Church to the [Society of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Society_of_the_Sacred_Hearts_of_Jesus_and_Mary&action=edit&redlink=1) in 1825; but the territory was judged to be too large, and the western portion was formed into a [vicariate Apostolic](/source/Vicariate_Apostolic) and given to the [Society of Mary](/source/Society_of_Mary_(Marists)) in 1836, with Mgr [Jean Baptiste Pompallier](/source/Jean_Baptiste_Pompallier) (1807–1871) appointed [vicar Apostolic](/source/Vicar_Apostolic) of Western Oceania. In 1842, the vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania was created comprising [New Caledonia](/source/New_Caledonia), Tonga, [Samoa](/source/Samoa), and [Fiji](/source/Fiji). A later subdivision, reduced the vicariate to include only Tonga, the [Wallis Islands](/source/Wallis_Islands), [Futuna](/source/Futuna_Island%2C_Wallis_and_Futuna), and [Niué](/source/Niu%C3%A9).[4] In 1937 the Vicariate Apostolic of Tonga Islands was created and in 1957 it became the Vicariate Apostolic of Tonga Islands and Niue and in 1966 the region became the [Diocese of Tonga](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Tonga).[1]

The conversion to Christianity of King [George Tupou I](/source/George_Tupou_I), who was the political architect of modern Tonga, had a great influence on the religious life of the [Polynesian](/source/Polynesians) nation. Of note, the last of the [Tu'i Tonga](/source/Tu'i_Tonga) line of Tongan Kings was Catholic. This is cited as being the reason that Lapaha in [Mu'a](/source/Mu'a_(Tongatapu)), the former capital of the [Tu'i Tongan Empire](/source/Tongan_Empire), is Catholic in contrast to neighbouring Tatakamotonga, which is predominantly [Methodist](/source/Methodist). Tonga sent a delegation of young people for the first time to [World Youth Day 2008](/source/World_Youth_Day_2008) when it was held in [Sydney, Australia](/source/Sydney%2C_Australia).[5]

There is no official state religion in Tonga, but around 63% of Tongans are Christian, including around 48% Protestant and 15% Catholic. There is also 18% American Mormon sect. The constitution declared [Sabbath](/source/Sunday_Sabbath) a holy day and the law restricts activities on Sundays.[6][7] The Catholic Church in Tonga has accepted and included [Tongan culture](/source/Culture_of_Tonga).

As in other countries, the Catholic Church runs schooling and social services in Tonga.[8] On 4 January 2015, [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) announced his intention to appoint the present Bishop of Tonga [Soane Patita Paini Mafi](/source/Soane_Patita_Paini_Mafi) as a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) at a [Papal consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) to be held on 14 February 2015.[9]

## See also

- [Diocese of Tonga](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Tonga)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_1-1) ["Diocese of Tonga"](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dtong.html). *[Catholic-Hierarchy.org](/source/Catholic-Hierarchy.org)*. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Bishop Soane Patita Paini Mafi"](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmafi.html). *[Catholic-Hierarchy.org](/source/Catholic-Hierarchy.org)*. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Polynesian culture | History, People, Religion, Traditions, & Facts"](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/468832/Polynesia/276584/Religion).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania"](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11200b.htm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Oceania Plans Bigger Turnout for Youth Day '08"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080510134551/http://www.archdioceseofagana.com/aoa_history.htm). *[Zenit News Agency](/source/Zenit_News_Agency)*. September 8, 2006. Archived from [the original](http://www.archdioceseofagana.com/aoa_history.htm) on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2012-07-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Tongan Culture and Customs"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100720211842/http://www.tongaholidays.co.uk/tongan-culture.cfm). Archived from [the original](http://www.tongaholidays.co.uk/tongan-culture.cfm) on 2010-07-20. Retrieved 2010-05-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The Kingdom of Tonga"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100429032354/http://alex.edfac.usyd.edu.au/AcrossCurric/Paradise/koftonga.html). Archived from [the original](http://alex.edfac.usyd.edu.au/AcrossCurric/Paradise/koftonga.html) on 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2010-05-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Apifoou.com is an internet community for all Catholic Schools in Tonga and its Ex-students! - Home"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090910071357/http://www.tongacatholicschools.com/). Archived from [the original](http://tongacatholicschools.com/) on 2009-09-10. Retrieved 2010-05-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Tablet_9-0)** [Christopher Lamb, "Red hats for a global Church", *The Tablet*, 8 January 2014](http://www.thetablet.co.uk/features/2/4330/red-hats-for-a-global-church) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180825073825/http://www.thetablet.co.uk/features/2/4330/red-hats-for-a-global-church) 25 August 2018 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (Retrieved 15 January 2015)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Catholic Church in Tonga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Tonga) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Tonga?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.