Pio Taofinuu, 82; First Pacific Islander to Serve as Cardinal

Cardinal Pio Taofinuu, 82, the first Pacific Islander to become a Roman Catholic cardinal, died early Thursday, according to a joint statement issued by the Archdiocese of Samoa and the chancery office in American Samoa.

The statement did not disclose where he died or the cause, but Taofinuu, who had heart trouble and a long history of diabetes, had been ill for several years.

Taofinuu was ordained in 1954 and became bishop of Apia in 1968. He was the first Polynesian bishop.

In 1973 he became the first Pacific Islander to join the church’s College of Cardinals. He served for almost 30 years, retiring in 2002.

Born in the Samoan village of Falealupo, Taofinuu began his studies for the priesthood in 1941 at Moamoa Theological College, Samoa, before transferring to the seminary in Lano, Wallis Island.

Among his many accomplishments, Taofinuu was largely responsible for incorporating Samoan traditions into Eucharistic celebrations.

His death was announced during a session of Parliament, while in neighboring American Samoa a moment of silence was observed in the Senate of the U.S. territory.