# Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby

The Archdiocese of Port Moresby (Latin: Archidiœcesis Portus Moresbiensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea. Its cathedral is in St. Mary's Cathedral, in Port Moresby, National Capital District.

## History

* Established on 10 May 1889 as Apostolic Vicariate of New Guinea on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Melanesia.
* Renamed on 1922.11.14 as Apostolic Vicariate of Papua
* Renamed on 1946.06.13 as Apostolic Vicariate of Port Moresby, having lost territory to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Samarai (now suffragan diocese Alotau-Sideia)
* Lost territory on 1958.11.13 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Mendi
* Lost territories on 1959.07.16 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Yule Island and the Apostolic Prefecture of Daru (now suffragan Diocese of Daru-Kiunga)
* Promoted on 1966.11.15 as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Port Moresby
* It enjoyed papal visits from Pope John Paul II in May 1984.05 and January 1995, and from Pope Francis in September 4-6, 2024.

## Bishops
### Ordinaries
#### Apostolic Vicars of New Guinea

* Louis-André Navarre, Sacred Heart Missionaries (M.S.C.) (1889.05.10 – 1908.01), Titular Bishop of Pentacomia (1887.05.17 – 1888.08.17); died 1912.01.16
* Alain-Marie Guynot de Boismenu, M.S.C. (1908.01 – 1922.11.14 see below), Titular Bishop of Gabala (1899.05.23 – 1945.01.18), succeeded as former Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of New Guinea (1899.05.23 – 1908.01)

#### Apostolic Vicar Papua

* Alain Guynot de Boismenu, M.S.C. (see above 1922.11.14 – retired 1946), later Titular Archbishop of Claudiopolis in Honoriade (1945.01.18 – death 1953.11.05)

#### Apostolic Vicars Port Moresby

* André Sorin, M.S.C. (1946.06.13 – death 1959.04.19), Titular Bishop of Antiphræ (1946.06.13 – 1959.04.19); previously Apostolic Administrator of Samarai (Papua New Guinea) (1946.06.13 – 1951.05.18)
* Apostolic Administrator Virgil Patrick Copas, M.S.C. (1959.12.19 – 1966.11.15 see below), Titular Bishop of Bennefa (1959.12.19 – 1966.11.15)

#### Metropolitan Archbishops of Port Moresby

* Virgil Patrick Copas, M.S.C. (see above 1966.11.15 – retired 1975.12.19), also Apostolic Administrator of suffragan see Bereina (Papua New Guinea) (1973 – 1976.03.01); later Archbishop-Bishop of Kerema (Papua New Guinea) (1976.05.24 – retired 1988.12.06); died 1993.10.03
* Herman To Paivu (1975.12.19 – death 1981.02.12), former Titular Bishop of Temuniana (1974.07.01 – 1975.12.19) & Auxiliary Bishop of Port Moresby (1974.07.01 – 1975.12.19)
* Peter Kurongku (1981.10.03 – death 1996.06.11); previously Titular Bishop of Sinnuara (1978.11.15 – 1981.10.03) & Auxiliary Bishop of Honiara (Solomon Islands) (1978.11.15 – 1981.10.03)
* Brian James Barnes, Friars Minor (O.F.M.) (14 June 1997 – 26 March 2008), previously Bishop of Aitape (Papua New Guinea) (1987.10.03 – 1997.06.14), President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (1993 – 1994); died 2017.05.09
* Sir John Ribat, KBE, M.S.C. (26 March 2008 - ...), also Cardinal (19 November 2016 - ...), President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (2011.05 – 2014.05), President of Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (2014.05 – ...); previously Titular Bishop of Macriana minor (2000.10.30 – 2002.02.12) & Auxiliary Bishop of Bereina (Papua New Guinea) (2000.10.30 – 2002.02.12), succeeded as Bishop of Bereina (2002.02.12 – 2007.04.16), then Coadjutor Archbishop of Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) (2007.04.16 – 2008.03.26)

### Coadjutor bishops

* Stanislas Henri Verjus, M.S.C. (1889–1892), as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic; did not succeed to see
* Alain Guynot de Boismenu, M.S.C. (1899–1908), as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic
* John Ribat, M.S.C. (2007–2008); future Cardinal

### Auxiliary bishops

* Louis Vangeke, M.S.C. (1970–1976), appointed Bishop of Bereina
* Herman To Paivu (1974–1975), appointed Archbishop here
* Cherubim Alfred Dambui (2000–2010)

## Province

Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own archdiocese and the following suffragan dioceses :
* Diocese of Alotau-Sideia
* Diocese of Bereina
* Diocese of Daru-Kiunga
* Diocese of Kerema