Basilique Saint-Pierre-Chanel de Poi

About

St. Pierre-Chanel Basilica is a Roman Catholic minor basilica located in Poi, Wallis-et-Futuna. It houses the relics of Pierre Chanel, the first martyr of Oceania.

Description: The basilica rises near the northern coast of the island of Futuna, on the French overseas territory of Wallis-et-Futuna, in the town of Poi.

History: Marist father Pierre Chanel arrived in Futuna on 1 November 1837 and undertook to convert the local population to Catholicism. He was assassinated on 28 April 1841 by Musumusu, son-in-law of King Niuliki, against the background of political conflict between the king, who saw his authority challenged, and his son, who joined the new religion and braved the customary prohibitions. Father Chanel's remains were recovered by Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier in December of the same year and transported to New Zealand, then returned to France in 1848. The first church is a simple wooden box of 75 feet long for 30 wide, erected on the very site of martyrdom and consecrated on November 22, 1843. The History of Futuna by Father Fotofilli[insufficient source] describes it in detail