Tongan bishop made a cardinal

NUKU‘ALOFA – Bishop Seane Patita Mafi of the diocese of Tonga and Niue has been appointed a cardinal of the Catholic Church by Pope Francis.

This is the first time the title has been bestowed on a priest from the kingdom.

At 53, Bishop Mafi is the youngest of the Catholic Church’s 15 new cardinals chosen by Pope Francis from 13 countries.

On February 15 the newly created Cardinal Mafi will take part in a mass at the Vatican presided over by the Pope.

A Vatican statement said the Pontiff would summon a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals, known as a Consistory, on February 14, at which they would reflect on the proposals for the reform of the Roman Curia.

Bishop Mafi was the third Tongan to be appointed a Catholic Bishop.

The first Tongan bishop was Patelesio Finau, who served from 1972 to 1993. He was succeeded by Soane Lilo Foliaki, who served from 1994 to 2008.

The Catholic Church was established in the kingdom in 1842.

The news of Bishop Mafi’s elevation has been welcomed by Catholics in the kingdom who see the appointment as making Tonga’s mark in the history of the world’s largest Christian denomination.

Many Tongans have used Facebook to pay tribute to Bishop Mafi.

On the Kainga Fo’ou ‘o ‘Aotearoa forum, a page used by Tongan Catholics in Auckland, a tribute says in Tongan: “Wake up! Let’s shout for joy and be jubilant for the news. Let’s be happy all Tongan Catholic for the honour given to Bishop Soane Patita Mafi. He is cardinal of the church. He is the first Tongan to be appointed to the post.”

Bishop Mafi was born on December 19, 1961 in Nuku’alofa and was ordained as a priest in June 1991.

On October 4, 2007 he was ordained Bishop with the title of Co-adjutor (assistant) Bishop of Tonga and Niue.

On April, 18, 2008 he succeeded to the title of the Bishop of Tonga and Niue.

Cardinals hold the highest ecclesiastical positions in the Catholic Church and elect one of their number as Pope. Cardinal Mafi could potentially one day be chosen as the Pope.

Known as the Princes of the Church, the Cardinals can wield immense power.

Most are in charge of a diocese or archdiocese, but they may also run departments in the Vatican administration.