Cardinal Soane Mafi in Tonga, 2026

The weather was so nasty in Tonga yesterday that most people stayed on board. Ultra-high winds and waves made it so we couldn’t even leave safely, and we immediately returned after departing and tied up for the night.

However, Father Patrick, our ship’s resident priest, arranged to have about 50 of the folks have a special meeting with Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, the first cardinal in Tonga’s history. He is extremely vocal against climate change and the negative impact of globalization.

When Pope Francis made him cardinal in 2015; he was the youngest member of the College of Cardinals.

Here he is with my very good friend Bill Langenhuisen.