Pope Francis arrives this Friday, September 6 in Papua New Guinea, a country of about 13 million inhabitants, 90% of whom say they are Christian (25% Catholic, 70% Protestant). This country is faced with poverty and experiences recurring violence, as well as environmental disasters. The Catholic Church wants to play a role of pacification. Interview with John Ribat, first cardinal of Papua New Guinea, created cardinal by Pope Francis in 2016.
Cardinal John Ribat: Pope Francis’ visit to Papua New Guinea is very important, because it will be his first visit to us as the Pope of our time. He will unite us with the Church of Rome. And his visit to the peripheries is very important, as well as his trip to Vanimo. Most of the time, when he goes to a country, he stays in the capital or in the big cities. This time, he intends to visit Vanimo, this rural place, very remote. He will also visit missionaries there, especially Argentines, people from his country, who live there.
RFI: The last apostolic visits date back to those of John Paul II in 1984 and then in 1995. What were the stages?
John Paul II came twice as Pope. The first time in 1984 he came to Port Moresby but he also went to Mount Hagen, where Polish missionaries were working in very remote areas of the mountains.
The second time he came, in 1995, was for the beatification of the first Catholic martyr we had here in Papua New Guinea, Peter To Rot.
- RFI
