MM 50 Years Ago

Catholic Samoa pays a visit to the Pope

Pope Paul VI in Samoa. Bishop (later Cardinal) Pio, is to the right of the Pope

In November 1971, Pope Paul landed for a day at Samoa on his journey from Manila to Sydney. This was a great honour for all the Pacific Islands and the Holy Father was fittingly received by Church and State.

Since then, in a further gesture of condescension, the Pope invited Bishop Pio SM of Samoa to come to Rome with a group of pilgrims to celebrate Mission Sunday, 24 October 1972. So, a party of twenty-six set out, with the invitation and material aid of Pope Paul.

The members of the group were not professional, or even experienced singers and entertainers. They were workers from the newly-developed Catholic farm and plantation, but they developed into an excellent singing and traditional dancing group.

February 1972

MM 50 Years Ago