Pope Francis embarked on a visit to Vanimo, a remote town on Papua New Guinea’s north-west coast, following a mass in the capital of Port Moresby attended by 35,000 people. The pope brought nearly a tonne of humanitarian aid and toys to deliver to the small Catholic community in the region, which is served by missionaries from his native Argentina. During his visit to Vanimo, the pope praised the community’s beauty and expressed his support for their work.
The pope’s visit to Vanimo is a highlight of his tour of south-east Asia and Oceania, which also includes stops in Indonesia, East Timor, and Singapore. The small town came to a standstill to welcome the pope, with locals lining the roads and authorities granting special permission for some to travel from nearby Indonesia to see him. The pope’s visit was particularly meaningful for the people of Baro Parish, a village near the border with Indonesia, where Argentine missionaries and sisters care for a school complex and a home for girls who have been victims of violence.
During his mass in Port Moresby, the pope emphasized the church’s focus on the “peripheries” and highlighted the importance of bridging distances for those who may feel distant from their faith and the institutional church. The majority of Papua New Guinea’s 12 million residents identify as Christian, with about a quarter of them being Catholic. The pope’s visit brought a sense of unity and blessings to the region, with locals expressing gratitude for his presence on their land.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
