OCEANIA/TONGA - The Pope appoints Coadjutor Bishop of Tonga

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 28 June 2007 appointed Rev. Soane Patita Paini Mafi vice rector of the Pacific Regional Seminary Fiji, Coadjutor Bishop of Tonga (Kingdom of Tonga).
The Bishop elect Soane Patita Paini Mafi was born on 19 December 1961, at Nuku’alofa, on the island of Tongatapu, diocese of Tonga. He studied philosophy and theology at the Pacific Regional Seminary Fiji. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1991 and has since ministered as follows: 1992 - 1994: parish priest at Ha’apai; 1995 - 1997: vicar general and parish priest at Nuku’alofa; 1998 - 1999: studies in psychology at Baltimora Loyola College, United States; 1999 - 2000: parish priest at Houma; since 2000: professor and formator at the Pacific Regional Seminary Fiji; since 2003: vice rector Pacific Regional Seminary Fiji. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/6/2007; Righe 11; Parole 148)