Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga Passes Away
Archbishop His Grace Alapati Lui Mataeliga.
Photo By : Anetone Sagaga / EyeSpyRadio 87.5 FM
Samoa's Archbishop His Grace Alapati Lui Mataeliga, the head of the
Catholic Church in Samoa, passed away this morning in Auckland, New
Zealand. He was 70.
"We, the bishops, priests, deacons, and catechists, and people of the
Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago offer our heartfelt prayers and sympathy to
Samoa." the members of the Diocese in PagoPago officially announced.
The Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia announced the news of the demise of
their cherished Archbishop Alapati at 3 today morning in Auckland,
according to the announcement made by family, loved ones and
parishioners of the Catholic Congregations in Samoa.His Grace was
appointed and elected as the second Archbishop of Samoa in the year
2002.
The youngest seminarian from Samoa to ever receive priestly ordination
is believed to be Archbishop Alapati. He was ordained at the age of 24
in the year 1977.On November 16, 2022, the Vatican named him as
Archbishop. He was consecrated in January 2003.Although his condition
has not been disclosed, it is known that he traveled to New Zealand to
receive treatment.
Alapati denounced the Interim Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele
Malielegaoi for disobeying the judges and refusing to cede office on
May 31, 2021, during the Samoan constitutional crisis.
Following the crisis, when the FAST administration forbade opposition
MPs from being sworn into parliament, Alapati engaged in an ifoga
(traditional apology) outside the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in an
effort to bring about peace upon the nation.
He was born on the 4th of January 1953 and hails from the village of
Sataua in the big island of Savaii.