Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago, Bishop Peter Brown met recently with the Holy Father Pope Francis in the Vatican. Bishop Peter, who took over leadership of the Catholic Church in American Samoa last year, returned last week Sunday from his orientation visit to the Vatican as a new bishop.

This conference was organized by Pope Francis and the Congregation for the Faith for all bishops who have been recently ordained. He was joined by 97 other bishops from around the world and the two-week conference provided an opportunity for the new bishops to meet all the heads of the different Congregations which make up the administration for 3 billion Catholics around the world.

Bishop Peter said although the program was very intense, the highlight was the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist in St Peter’s Basilica last weekend and then have a private audience with Pope Francis, according to a statement from the Catholic Church.

On meeting the Holy Father, Bishop Peter gave him a pictorial album of American Samoa together with an invitation to come and visit the beautiful islands of American Samoa. Pope Francis assured Bishop Peter that he prayed continually for peace among all nations, especially Oceania.