Cardinal Pio Taofinu'u
The first Samoan to become a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in 1973, Cardinal Pio Taofinu'u is one of the most prominent spiritual leaders in Samoa and the Pacific Islands. Born on 8th of December ,1923 at Falealupo ,Savaii Pio Taofinu'u attended the Falealupo catechism school before entering the Moamoa Theological College. After attending a seminary in Wallis and Futuna , Pio Taufinu'u worked at Leauvaa and Palauli .Later he went to New York and then returned to Samoa in 1962. In 1968 Pio Taofinu'u was ordained as Bishop Pio Taofinu'u.
Cardinal Pio Taofinu'u has been leading the reforms to the Catholic Church in Samoa in which some aspects of Samoan culture have been blended with the old traditional church practices .Celebrations of mass now involve people wearing garlands of flowers and presentation of fine mats.