Pope Francis Visits Remote Papua New Guinea to ‘Break Down Distances’

Pope Francis recently made a significant visit to Vanimo, a town located on the remote north-west coast of Papua New Guinea. This trip followed his mass celebration in the capital, Port Moresby, where an impressive crowd estimated at around 35,000 people gathered to hear him speak.

The pope received a heartfelt welcome in Vanimo, which is situated near the border with Indonesia. Members of the local Catholic community, many of whom are supported by Argentine missionaries, turned out to greet him with enthusiasm.

Upon arriving in the area, Pope Francis brought with him nearly a tonne of humanitarian aid and toys, which he aimed to distribute to the missionaries and faithful living in this remote region.

Addressing a crowd that the Vatican estimated at 20,000, he expressed his admiration for their spirit and resilience. “You are doing something beautiful, and it is important that you are not left alone,” the pope shared during his visit. He also praised the natural beauty of the land, highlighting its rich variety of flora and fauna. “You live in a magnificent land, enriched by a great variety of plants and birds,” he noted, while celebrating the love and unity of the community.

This visit to Vanimo has been seen as a highlight of Pope Francis’ trip to Papua New Guinea, which is the second leg of his broader tour covering four nations in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Following his stop in Indonesia, he is scheduled to visit East Timor and conclude his journey in Singapore later this week.

During the pope’s three-hour stay in Vanimo, the town was transformed as shops closed and roads were barricaded to accommodate his visit. Father Augustine Prado, a local priest, shared that he and his brother had extended an invitation to Pope Francis back in 2019, during a pilgrimage to Rome. “My brother, Father Martin, invited him,” he explained, noting that their connection had flourished since that initial encounter.

The Prado siblings, along with their sister Sr. Cielos, are part of a modest group of Argentine missionaries and sisters dedicated to serving the local Baro parish. This includes overseeing a school complex and providing support to girls affected by violence—a cause that Pope Francis has been passionate about for years.

Baro, a village near Vanimo and adjacent to the international border, saw locals lining the main highway, adorned with flowers and banners, eager for a glimpse of the pope. Special permissions were granted for a few individuals from Indonesia to cross the border for this historic encounter. Pelagus Laguwan, among the first to arrive from across the border, remarked that their journey costs about US$500. “The Vatican is far, so we are humbled that the pope came to Papua New Guinea,” he said.

Laguwan added, “We may not be of the same country, but we live on the same land, so we are honoured that the pope is gracing our land and will bring blessings.” For many in the group, it was their first experience crossing into Papua New Guinea from Indonesia.

Earlier in the day, during his mass in Port Moresby, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of including those who may feel disconnected from the church. He stated he wanted to prioritize the church on the “peripheries,” encouraging believers to realize that God is close, even if they feel distanced. “Brothers and sisters, 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,” he expressed.

He continued, “Today the Lord wants to draw near to you, to break down distances.” Early arrivals gathered to participate in the morning mass, showcasing the strong Christian faith in Papua New Guinea, where more than 90% of the population identifies as Christian, with around a quarter belonging to the Catholic Church, amidst a backdrop of diverse local beliefs and customs.

Source: Agence France-Presse