ARCIMBOLDI, Guidantonio
Archbishop, born in Milan and died there on 18 Oct. 1497. After completing his legal studies, he held important positions in his native city, including that of president of the Senate. He was commendatory abbot of S. Dionigi when, in 1488, he succeeded his brother Cardinal Giovanni as archbishop of Milan.
He wrote numerous orations, the most important of which is the one he delivered, on behalf of Ludovico Sforza, in the presence of Innocent VIII.
ARCIPELAGO DEI NAVIGATORI, vicariato apostolico dell’
It was erected on 29 Aug. 1850, being detached from the vicariate of Central Oceania (v. Wallis e Futuna), entrusted to the Society of Mary (Marists), and comprises the groups of Samoa and Tokelau and the island of Swains. The area of the territory is 33,591 sq. km; the population is about 80,000, of whom 60,000 are Protestants, 16,476 Catholics and 141 catechumens, with 200 pagans.
The 15 ecclesiastical districts are administered by 22 priests (5 Samoans), 9 members of the congregation of the Little Brothers of Mary, and 54 missionary sisters of the Society of Mary. There is a minor seminary (48 pupils). The schools are well organized, both elementary (114 with 2,300 pupils) and secondary (16 with 750 pupils), as well as that for catechists (56 pupils). A local printing press issues the monthly periodical *O le Anauna* in Samoan (750 copies).
Religious indifferentism, engendered in the uneducated masses by the multiplicity of Protestant denominations, and the laxity of morals, hinder a more rapid progress of the mission, especially since it began in territory already dominated by non-Catholics.