The Basilica of Poi
The martyr's shrine - Futuna's basilica honouring Saint Pierre Chanel, Oceania's first saint, at the site of his 1841 death.
Updated 2 October 2026
AI illustration
Futuna holds Oceania's proto-martyr ground: at Poi in 1841, the Marist missionary Pierre Chanel was killed - canonised a century later as the Pacific's first saint - and the basilica raised at the site carries the relics and the region's pilgrimage: an airy nave in island-Marian style, the shrine's reliquary, and the April 28 feast that gathers Wallis, Futuna and the diaspora's returnees in the islands' greatest religious occasion. The church's setting - coast road, mountain backdrop, villages in Sunday whites - frames Futuna's deep Catholic register; visitors attend with pilgrimage courtesy and receive the welcome accordingly.
The main sights
- The basilica nave - island-Marian architecture at the site.
- The Chanel reliquary - Oceania's first saint honoured.
- The April 28 feast - the islands' great pilgrimage day.
- The Sunday whites - Futuna's faith in full observance.
When to go
May to October with the season; April 28 is the feast's gathering - beds and boats book solid around it.
Things to know
This is active pilgrimage ground - dress and conduct at church standard, photography discreet; the feast's crowds run at island maximum.
Nearby
Leava, the north coast and Alofi's strait.
What to pack for The Basilica of Poi
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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