Michel-Gaspard Coppenrath

Monsignor Michel-Gaspard Coppenrath (4 June 1924 – 16 August 2008) was the Tahitian Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Papeete in French Polynesia for 26 years from 1973 until 1999. Coppenrath served as the Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Papeete from 1999 until his death in 2008.

Early life Michel-Gaspard Coppenrath was born in Papeete, Tahiti and was a demi, of half-Tahitian descent. He later moved to France, where he served as a member of the French Resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II before joining the priesthood. He further obtained both a degree in civil law as well as a doctorate in Canon law. Coppenrath continued to serve as Archbishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Papeete. Several thousand people from throughout Tahiti and Moorea, including many prominent French Polynesian and French government officials, attended his funeral. The crowds were so large that a large television screen had to be set up outside of the church. All Catholic schools in Faʻaʻā, Papeete, Pīraʻe and Punaʻauia were closed on 18 August 2008, the day of Coppenrath's funeral.

Coppenrath's brother and successor, Archbishop Hubert Coppenrath, thanked those in attendance saying, "On behalf of my brother.... I would like to thank everyone who sent their sympathy to Archbishop Michel Coppenrath." He also described his brother as "an evangelist, a visionary and a man attentive to the people."

French Polynesian President Gaston Tong Sang gave the eulogy at Coppenrath's funeral. Tong Sang said of Coppenrath, "Michel Coppenrath, in the great evangelic tradition of your predecessors, you gave your life to the service of faith, the Catholic Church and its faithful, with full respect of man and other beliefs. Your righteousness and your openness, your broad culture, your natural authority and your love of others were unanimously appreciated in our 'country’, but also among other churches in Oceania."

Coppenrath's death earned messages of condolence from across French Polynesia. The Rev. Taaroanui Maraea, current president of the Maohi Protestant Church, praising Coppenrath as full of "compassion and his brotherly love" and saying that he "hasn't forgotten the ecumenical work he undertook, opening the possibilities of encounter and recognition between the two churches".

The recently appointed High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia, Adolphe Colrat called Coppenrath "a great builder of the (Catholic) Church, particularly concerned with training (French) Polynesian priests. He leaves the lasting memory of a man profoundly good and warm whose great courtesy was only equaled by the firmness of his beliefs." Tributes were also extended by Oscar Temaru, Bruno Sandras, Gaston Flosse and Jean-Christophe Bouissou.

Michel-Gaspard Coppenrath was interred at the Priests' Cemetery in Tahiti.