Catholic Archdiocese of Mount Hagen welcomes Archbishop Clement Papa

Rebiamul, Mount Hagen: The Catholic Faithful, Christian Churches and the people of goodwill of the Archdiocese of Mount Hagen including neighboring Dioceses came together on Tuesday April 8, 2025 to witness another historical occasion for the Archdiocese - the Solemn Rite of Canonical Possession and Installation of Most Reverend Clement Papa as the fourth Archbishop of Mount Hagen.

(Picture: Priests and Bishops take a group picture after the mass.)

The first part of the mass began with a colorful procession that had the Archbishop and the altar servers taken to the door of the Cathedral where the new Bishop took canonical possession of the diocese before the liturgical reception.

The crowd cheered as Coadjutor Archbishop Papa opened the doors to the Cathedral and was welcomed by Metropolitan Archbishop Douglas William Young SVD, brother Bishops and priests where he kissed the Crucifix and Sprinkling of Holy Water took place. He then went on to pray before the Blessed Sacrament as the clergy joined him in prayer.

The lively procession by the New Guinea Islands Region, Southern Region and Momase Region students from the Holy Trinity Teacher’s College brought the Bishops and Priests to the altar for the Solemn Installation Mass.

Archbishop Douglas Young presided over the introductory liturgical rite. After the entrance procession he reverenced the altar and then sat at the Bishop’s chair (cathedra). Upon completion of the entrance song, he greeted the people and then asked that the Apostolic Letter be shown and read.

The Secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Federico Boni read the Apostolic Letter. After which Coadjutor Archbishop Papa was escorted to the Cathedra by Archbishop Douglas Young. He was then seated in the cathedra (the bishop’s chair), at which moment he formally took possession of the diocese. This prayerful and joyous event is a special moment in the life of a diocese.

Multitudes witnessed and cheered for the joyful yet somber moment as Archbishop Emeritus Douglas William Young SVD handed over the crozier and the keys to the Cathedral  as symbols of leadership in the diocese.

While seated in the Cathedra, the new Archbishop Clement Papa was congratulated by his brother Bishops, the priests, religious congregation leaders, members of other churches and ecclesial communities, civil authorities and selected members of the congregation before the mass proceeded.

In his homily, Archbishop Papa reflected on the readings that highlights God’s presence and work in our lives.

“In the first reading, the sign was a cloud. The cloud represented God’s presence and guidance to the Israelites in their journey to the promised land. In the second reading, we have the idea of a garden. The garden in our context is our life, it sustains our livelihood. God’s presence in our gardens is found in the quantity of our harvests. He blesses our gardens so we can be nourished and sustained. In the Gospel, the sign of wind signifies God’s presence in our midst”

Archbishop Papa encouraged the congregation to reflect and be guided by the signs of the cloud and wind to walk in faith embracing God’s presence in their lives to walk in partnership with him as he takes over the new ministry of shepherdship.

The Bougainvillean community of the St Paul’s Parish put forth a colorful procession that had the faithful giving their best garden produce as offertory before the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The Solemn Installation mass concluded with speeches from different representatives from the women, laity, business houses, civil society organizations, priests and the Catholic Bishops Conference.

Archbishop Emeritus Douglas William Young SVD in his remarks thanked everyone who have worked and walked with him in his years of shepherding the Archdiocese and encouraged the faithful to show the same support to his successor, Archbishop Clement Papa.

In response, Archbishop Papa expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Archbishop Emeritus for his immense contribution to the Archdiocese of Mount Hagen and his predecessors for setting a strong foundation. He also pledged to work with the Catholic faithful and people of goodwill to continue the legacy of his predecessors.

President of the Catholic Bishops Conference His Lordship Bishop Otto Separy in his remarks thanked Archbishop Emeritus Douglas William Young SVD for his contributions to Mount Hagen Archdiocese as well as to the Catholic Bishops Conference.

“During Archbishop Emeritus Doug’s Episcopal Ordination as the Auxiliary Bishop of Mount Hagen, I attended as a young priest from the Diocese of Wewak. Twenty-five years later, I am standing here as the President of CBC PNSGI on behalf of the Bishops to thank him for his immeasurable contribution to the Catholic Church of PNGSI”

The Installation Mass concluded with a group picture and feasting to mark another milestone in the Archdiocese of Mount Hagen.