Archdiocese of Port Moresby remembers the life of Pope Francis

St Mary’s Cathedral: Religious congregation members, civil society representatives, Catholic faithful and the people of goodwill gathered at the St Mary’s Cathedral for a mass held in memory of the passing of the Holy Father Pope Francis on Wednesday April 23, 2025.

His Eminence John Cardinal Ribat MSC during mass.

The angelic choir from St Charles Lwanga Parish, Gerehu set the tone for the somber and moving event by singing songs that were sung during the late Pope’s visit to Papua New Guinea from September 6 – 9, 2024.

His Eminence John Cardinal Ribat MSC presided over the mass with other priests within the Archdiocese of Port Moresby as concelebrants, including the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature Monsignor Federico Boni.

In a moving homily, Cardinal Ribat MSC reflected on the life of Pope Francis saying that his efforts in implementing significant reforms in the Vatican will be forever remembered by the people.

“He was a Pope for the people and was always vocal about the plight of migrants and refugees”

The Cardinal also reflected on the late Pope’s visit to PNG saying that he touched the lives of many when he visited the country and encouraged everyone to keep close to their hearts the messages, he left with us.

His Eminence concluded his homily making mention of Pope Francis’ focus during his Papacy which includes: Preference for the Poor, Action on Climate Change, Revising the Catechism to rule out the death penalty, Interfaith Dialogue, Pope for the Pandemic and Pope in a Conflict Zone.

Representing the Apostolic Nunciature was Monsignor Federico Boni who expressed feelings of profound gratitude for the filial love shown, together with the joy of Easter, and the celebration of the passage to eternal life of our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis.

“Many messages of condolence and solidarity in prayer have reached me in these days, both from people who came personally to the Apostolic Nunciature and through other means; both the national authorities and the priests, religious and lay faithful. And all of them have remembered with deep emotion the days that Pope Francis wanted to spend here in Papua New Guinea last September, as a pilgrim of hope, attentive to the peripheries of our world, to the poorest and most marginalized men and women”

Monsignor Federico said Pope Francis leaves an important legacy that now falls to the Cardinals in particular to collect, on behalf of the people of God, so that the evangelizing mission of the Church does not stop on the roads of the world.

“We came here to entrust the soul of Pope Francis to the Mercy of God, but we are also here to renew our faith in the God to whom the Holy Father has always entrusted his life. We are here to bear witness to our faith and trust in God, because we know that God will never abandon his children and his Church. And so we are also here to recognize in you, Cardinal, the first Cardinal of this country, a concrete sign of God's love for us, through which the Church will soon be able to find a new Pope, a new spiritual guide and a new Shepherd for all of us, catholics scattered all over the world.”

Monsignor Federico bade farewell to His Eminence John Cardinal Ribat MSC who will be attending the funeral of the Holy Father and also take part in the conclave, which is called to elect a new Bishop of Rome and a new Shepherd who will guide and confirm in the faith the whole Church, in the name of Christ.

“We accompany you with our prayers on this special journey to Rome. Bring with you all our affection for Pope Francis at his last earthly farewell. And also bring the voice and faith of the Church of the periphery, so close to the heart of God, to the next Conclave”

Pope Francis was the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.