Pope Francis’ Visit to Papua New Guinea: Emphasizing Community and Faith

Pope Francis Visits Papua New Guinea: A Celebration of Community and Faith

Pope Francis embarked on a significant journey to the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea on Sunday, highlighting the Catholic Church’s commitment to the peripheries. As part of his visit, he brought with him an abundance of humanitarian aid, including medicine and toys for local children. The pope traveled aboard a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 transport plane from Port Moresby to Vanimo, where he engaged with the local Catholic community and missionaries from his native Argentina.

Upon his arrival, an estimated 20,000 enthusiastic people gathered in front of the Vanimo cathedral, expressing their joy through singing and dancing. The pope was warmly welcomed with a traditional feathered headdress, symbolizing the rich cultural heritage of the region. During his address, Francis lauded the dedication of church workers who tirelessly spread the faith. However, he also emphasized the importance of fostering goodwill within their own communities, urging the faithful to combat the tribal rivalries and violence that often mar the culture of Papua New Guinea.

In a heartfelt message, he called for an end to personal, familial, and tribal divisions that lead to “destructive behaviours such as violence, infidelity, exploitation, alcohol and drug abuse—evils that imprison and rob the happiness of so many of our brothers and sisters, even in this beautiful country.” He addressed the growing ethnic violence stemming from land disputes, which have become increasingly lethal in recent years.

During his homily, Pope Francis reassured the attendees that even if they sometimes feel distant from their faith and the institutional church, God remains close to them. He stated, “You who live on this large island in the Pacific Ocean may sometimes have thought of yourselves as a far away and distant land, situated at the edge of the world. Yet today the Lord wants to draw near to you, to break down distances, to let you know that you are at the center of his heart and that each one of you is important to him.”

After the Mass, the pope boarded the C-130 with a small entourage and his security team. Accompanying him were the popemobile golf cart he would be using in Vanimo, along with a ton of humanitarian supplies, including clothing and toys, as reported by Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. Francis has consistently prioritized the church’s mission to serve those on the “peripheries,” believing that their needs are often more critical than those in the heart of institutional church structures. This philosophy has led him to favor visits to remote communities rather than foreign trips to European capitals, where Catholics may be a majority.

Vanimo, a picturesque coastal city known for its vibrant surfing culture, has a population of around 11,000. Vatican statistics indicate that there are approximately 2.5 million Catholics in Papua New Guinea, which has a total population of about 10 million. On Saturday, the pope urged church leaders in Papua New Guinea to pay close attention to marginalized individuals who have been harmed by “prejudice and superstition,” sharing distressing accounts of women falsely accused of witchcraft and subsequently shunned by their families.

Pope Francis’ visit to Vanimo marked the second leg of his four-nation tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania. Following this visit, he plans to travel to East Timor on Monday before concluding his trip in Singapore later in the week.