Justitia et Veritas – Justice and Truth

• Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb

 

Bishop Francis Meli, the newly consecrated Bishop of Vanimo, has chosen Justitia et Veritas – Justice and Truth as his Episcopal motto.  

 

It contains elements representing significant events in his life and the lives of the people he lived and worked with as a priest and now will live as Bishop of Vanimo.

 

Scales: He has been Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Rabaul for almost 20 years.

Wedding Rings: Symbolize the pastoral work in the matrimonial tribunal, in the Archdiocese of Rabaul, New Guinea Islands and the other dioceses of Papua New Guinea.

Sacred Scriptures: The daily celebration of the Eucharist is the foundation of Divine Revelation of our Catholic Truth.  ‘The Word became flesh.’  ‘Jesus Christ in the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the end.’

The Palm Tree: West New Britain is an Oil Palm Province where he was born and brought up.  It is an important cash crop that sustains livelihood and economy. The A means first and the Omega means last, words applied to our Lord.

The Holy Cross: It is the centre of our revealed Truth and Catholic Faith.  He will wear the Bishops cross everyday around his neck.

 

Christ is the first in all that Bp Francis Meli does in his ministry as a Bishop of Vanimo.