Pope Francis visited the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea on Sunday (September 8, 2024) to celebrate the Catholic Church of the peripheries. He brought with him a ton of medicine and toys, along with a message of love conquering violence for the local community.
The Pope flew from Port Moresby to Vanimo on a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 transport plane. In Vanimo, he met with the local Catholic community and Argentine missionaries who have been serving the people there.
Upon his arrival in Vanimo, a crowd of around 20,000 people greeted Pope Francis with singing and dancing. He even wore a feathered headdress presented to him by the community.
In his address, the Pope commended the church workers for their efforts to spread the faith. He encouraged the local faithful to focus on treating each other with kindness and to put an end to tribal rivalries and violence that are prevalent in Papua New Guinea.
He used the analogy of an orchestra, emphasizing the importance of harmonious collaboration within the community to overcome divisions and conflicts.
Pope Francis highlighted the need to address issues such as tribal violence and gender-based violence that have plagued Papua New Guinea. He called for unity, civic responsibility, and cooperation to prevail.
During a morning Mass in Port Moresby, attended by approximately 35,000 people, the Pope reassured the congregation that God is close to them, despite any feelings of distance from their faith or the institutional church.
After the Mass, Pope Francis boarded the C-130 plane with humanitarian aid, including medicine, clothes, and toys for children. The Pope’s visit to Papua New Guinea is part of his tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, which also includes stops in Indonesia, East Timor, and Singapore.
Published – September 08, 2024 11:56 am IST
