Cardinal John Ribat and PNG Church Leaders on Ecumenical Mission to Australia: A Journey of Faith, Unity and Care for Creation

His Eminence Sir John Cardinal Ribat MSC, Most Rev. Justin Ain Soongie — accompanying bishop and key PNG Church representatives meeting Senator Penny Wong

In a profound witness to Christian unity and synodality, His Eminence Sir John Cardinal Ribat, MSC, Archbishop of Port Moresby and Chairman of the Papua New Guinea Council of Churches, led a delegation of Church leaders from Papua New Guinea on an ecumenical visit to Australia.

Building Community Engagement Papua New Guinea (BCEP) coordinated the delegation’s visit from 2–9 September 2026. The delegation met with a range of Australian stakeholders, including government ministers, church leaders and civil society representatives, to discuss important issues such as election integrity, labour mobility, environmental stewardship and health. The program also included visits to several church-run initiatives and community projects.

The visit strengthened relationships between PNG and Australian churches and stakeholders while highlighting areas of shared interest and cooperation.

Accompanying His Eminence was Most Rev. Justin Ain Soongie, Bishop of Wabag Diocese and Deputy Bishop for Caritas Papua New Guinea under the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

The visit took place as the universal Church celebrated the Season of Creation, observed from 1 September to 4 October—a time of prayer and action for our common home. The delegation’s mission therefore carried a timely emphasis on integral human development, climate justice and stewardship of creation in the Pacific.

In Sydney, the delegation was received at Admiralty House by Her Excellency the Honourable Samantha Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Samantha Mostyn AC, shares a warm greeting with the Catholic Bishop of Wabag, His Excellency Bishop Justin Ain Soongie.

At Parliament House in Canberra, His Eminence and the delegation held cordial meetings with the Hon. Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs; the Hon. Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific; the Hon. Milton Dick MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives; and members of the Australian Parliamentary Christian Fellowship. Their discussions focused on faith, bilateral cooperation and service to the most vulnerable.

Reflecting on the Season of Creation, the Church leaders also engaged with the Uniting Climate Action Network in a dialogue on environmental stewardship. The conversation reaffirmed the commitment of the Churches in Oceania to raise a common prophetic voice for climate action.

Church leaders and Uniting Climate

In a moment of pastoral closeness, His Eminence and Bishop Justin travelled to Cootamundra, New South Wales, to meet with Papua New Guinean faithful participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme. There, they shared fellowship and offered pastoral support and encouragement to workers living far from home.

The ecumenical pilgrimage concluded with a solemn moment of remembrance at the Australian War Memorial, honouring the shared history and sacrifice that unite the peoples of Papua New Guinea and Australia.

This ecumenical mission stands as a sign of a Church that walks together—listening, serving and caring for our common home.