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Political speech in the capital Port Moresby to the leadership of the island state with calls to end the spiral of violence, commitment to the common good and sustainable development
Port Moresby (kath.net/KAP) Pope Francis has called for peace and justice in Papua New Guinea. The wealth of land and sea resources in the Pacific island state is “destined by God for the whole of society,” he said on Saturday in the capital Port Moresby. Ecological and cultural diversity means that governments and citizens have a responsibility to ensure sustainable and fair development for the well-being of “everyone without exception.” The Pope spoke to representatives of politics, civil society and the diplomatic corps at the start of a stay of several days in Port Moresby. He also referred in particular to women’s rights.
The population must be given appropriate consideration when distributing the profits that international corporations make from natural resources, demanded Francis in his speech in the city’s largest conference center, the APEC House. The building’s architecture is based on the traditional boats used for trade between the islands. Francis was received by members of the Motu Koitabu from the Port Moresby region, who performed a dance in their colorful, feathered costumes. The guest from Rome was also presented with a small wooden replica of the traditional boat.
The Pope also called for better healthcare and education as well as more humane working conditions. At the same time, he was fascinated by the “enormous diversity” of the country with hundreds of islands, over 800 languages and ethnic groups.
Appeal to end the violence
“I hope in particular that the violence between the tribes will end, which unfortunately claims many victims, makes peaceful coexistence impossible and hinders development,” the Pope stressed. “I therefore appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility to break the spiral of violence and instead resolutely pursue the path that leads to fruitful cooperation for the good of the entire people of this country.” He also called for the status of the island of Bougainville, which is striving for independence, to be clarified and for a revival of old tensions to be prevented.
He recalled the motto of his visit to the country, which lasts until Monday: “Pray”. “A people that prays has a future because it draws strength and hope from above,” said Francis. The bird of paradise in the logo of the trip is a symbol of “that freedom that nothing and no one can suppress, because it is an inner one and is protected by God, who is love and who wants his children to be free.”
He encouraged Christians, who make up 95 percent of the population in Papua New Guinea, to work with public institutions and people of all denominations and religions for the common good. Faith can help society to grow and “find good and effective solutions to its great challenges,” said Francis, given the great poverty in the country, which also struggles with high illiteracy rates, corruption and crime. Port Moresby, the capital, is considered one of the most unsafe cities in the world.
In his address, Francis also remembered the first blessed of Papua New Guinea, Peter To Rot, whose beatification ceremony Pope John Paul II himself presided over in Port Moresby in 1995, as well as the blessed missionary Giovanni Mazzucconi.
Development mainly by women
Earlier on Saturday morning (local time), the Pope had called for more respect for women in Papua New Guinea during a courtesy visit to the residence of Papua New Guinea’s Governor General Robert Dadae in Port Moresby. “Do not forget that women drive a country forward,” said Francis. Women have the ability to give life, to build a country. They are at the forefront of human development.
In the country with a population of around 10 million, women suffer from patriarchal structures and the violence and discrimination that come with them. The number of reports of targeted rapes is increasing. Most of the victims of the witch hunts that are still widespread in Papua New Guinea are women. There are also cases of forced marriages.
In his speech to the Pope, Governor General Dadae also called on his fellow countrymen to respect the equality of men and women. The representative of the British king described women as “a special gift from God” that deserves recognition and respect.
Governor General: Sea levels are a concern
Dadae also reminded everyone that sea levels are rising and are threatening many islands. He expressed his hope for prayers and concrete support from the Catholic Church for “global measures”. He also addressed the violence in his country and used the opportunity to appeal to his fellow countrymen to “respect the moral values and ethical principles that characterize us as Christians”.
The governor praised the church as “one of the government’s most important development partners in the provision of services in the country,” pointing out that the government also financially supports the church’s work for children and communities through education, health and spiritual care. Dadae paid special tribute to the church for its commitment to the marginalized, for example in the fight against violence and human rights violations in his country, and gratefully recalled the two visits by John Paul II to Papua New Guinea.
45th and longest foreign trip for Francis
The two diplomatic meetings on Saturday morning marked the start of Pope Francis’ official visit to Papua New Guinea. Saturday also included a visit to a Catholic religious school, meetings with bishops, priests, religious and other pastors from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, before a mass in a sports stadium and a trip to the coastal town of Vanimo on the border with Indonesian West New Guinea were scheduled for Sunday.
On Monday, the Pope will travel on to East Timor and from Wednesday to the city state of Singapore. The twelve-day Pope’s trip through Southeast Asia and Oceania is scheduled to begin in Indonesia, marking Francis’ 45th and longest foreign trip to date. The head of the Church is expected back in the Vatican on September 13.
Copyright 2024 Catholic Press Agency KATHPRESS, Vienna, Austria
Photo (c) Vatican Media
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