DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COOK ISLANDS AND THE HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, APR 29, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy See and the Cook Islands (Oceania), in the desire to develop friendly bilateral relations, have mutually agreed to establish diplomatic links at the level of apostolic nunciature by the Holy See and embassy by the Cook Islands.

The Cook group comprises 15 volcanic islands, 13 of which are inhabited. They have a surface area of 234 square kilometers and a population of 19,000 inhabitants. The diocese of Rarotonga covers all the islands. There are 3,074 Catholics and 15 parishes in which a total of 8 priests are active, both diocesan - two of whom are indigenous -and religious.

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