Church in Samoa in which some aspects of Samoan culture were blended with the existing practices. Archbishop and cardinal Taofinuʻu was created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in the consistory of March 5, 1973. He participated in the 1978 papal conclaves of August, and October. He became the first Archbishop of Samoa-Apia, when the Diocese of Samoa-Apia and Tokelau (as it was then), was elevated to the rank of archdiocese. Liturgical Reform Cardinal Taofinuʻu presided over the first Synod of the Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia, which began on December 7, 1990, and ended on December 14, 1990. After careful discussion and consideration, Taofinuʻu approved six synodal acts from his Commission on Worship, Sacraments and Inculturation.The second of these six acts states "O le faaaganuuga o le Tapuaiga auaufaatasi i le Puleaga Faaakiepikopo o Samoa – Apia ia faaauauina le tilotilo toto‘a i ai ma le toe iloiloinaina ma o lona faatinoga ia lanutasia i le puleaga atoa" or "[t]he inculturation of the Liturgy in the Archdiocese of Samoa – Apia is to be continually reviewed and reevaluated, and its implementation should be uniform through the archdiocese." As a result of these acts, the liturgies in the archdiocese were vibrant, become more meaningful to the people by making use of the signs and cultural symbols of the people of Samoa. During his episcopate, a new hymnal incorporating old and new hymns for the liturgy was also prepared and published for use through the ecclesiastical province of Samoa-Apia. Retirement and death He retired as cardinal on November 16, 2002, at the age of 79, and died in Apia shortly after midnight on January 19, 2006, at the age of 82. His death was announced during a session of Parliament in Samoa while the Senate in American Samoa observed a moment of silence. He is buried in the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Mulivai village, Apia. References Samoan Roman Catholic archbishops 1923 births 2006 deaths 20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Oceania 21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Oceania Samoan cardinals Cardinals created by Pope Paul VI People from Vaisigano Seminary of Lano alumni Roman Catholic bishops of Samoa–Apia Roman Catholic archbishops of Samoa–Apia