Pope Francis was welcomed by PNG's Governor General, Sir Bob Dadae at the APEC Haus on Saturday, September 7, after his visit to Government House earlier in the morning.
(The Holy Father giving his address at the APEC Haus)
He was warmly welcomed by a singsing group from the Motu Koita people, and other individuals dressed in traditional attire representing the diverse culture of Papua New Guinea.
Present at the APEC Haus Ballroom were Religious and Political Leaders, as well as the Pacific Island Leaders, the Diplomatic Corps, and representatives from the civil society.
Looking on with admiration was a number of people that turned up to get a glimpse of the Holy Fathers on his arrival at the APEC Haus.
In his address, the Holy Father thanked the Governor General Sir Bob Dadae for the warm welcome and the reception and extended his greetings to the people of Papua New Guinea.
He also expressed gratitude to the Authorities for helping the church, in a spirit of mutual cooperation and for the benefit of the common good, as she carries out many activities.
“In your homeland, an archipelago with hundreds of islands, more than 800 languages are spoken, corresponding to the just as many ethnic groups. This points to an extraordinary cultural richness. I must confess that this greatly fascinates me, also on a spiritual level, because I imagine that this enormous variety is a challenge to the Holy Spirit, who creates harmony amid differences!”
The Holy Father said that besides consisting of many islands and languages, PNG is also rich in natural resources elaborated that these goods are destined by God for the entire community.
He encouraged the Government leaders ensure that the needs of the local people are given due consideration when distributing the proceeds and employing workers in order to improve their living conditions, even if outside experts and large international companies are involved in the harnessing of these resources.
“These environmental and cultural treasures treasures represent at the same time great responsibility because they require everyone, civil authorities and all citizens to promote initiatives that develop natural and human resources in a sustainable and equitable manner. A manner that improves the wellbeing of all, excluding nobody, through concrete programmes, international cooperation, mutual respect and agreements beneficial to all parties”.
His Holiness noted that a necessary condition for such lasting results is the stability of institutions which is fostered by agreement on certain essential points amidst different concepts and sensibilities present in society.
“Increasing institutional stability and building consensus on fundamental choices is a prerequisite for integral and fair development. It also requires a long-term vision and a climate of cooperation, mutual respect and agreements beneficial to all parties”.
He also made special mention of his particular hope that tribal violence will come to an end for it causes many victims, prevents people from living in peace and hinders development.
“I appeal, therefore, to everyone’s sense of responsibility to stop the spiral of violence and instead resolutely embark on the path that leads to fruitful cooperation for the benefit of all the people of the country”.
Pope Francis also made a brief special mention regarding the status of Bougainville to find a definitive solution while avoiding the rekindling of ancient tensions.
He said by bolstering agreement on the foundation elements of civil society, together with the willingness of each person to sacrifice something from his or her point of view for the benefit of all, the necessary forces can be utilised to improve infrastructure, address the health and educational needs of the population and increase opportunities for dignified work.
“Sometimes, we forget that human beings need more than just the basic necessities of life. They also need great hope in their hearts. This allows them to live fully, giving them the zest and courage to undertake wide-ranging projects and enables them to lift their gaze upward toward vast horizons”.
He emphasised that an abundance of material goods is not enough to give birth to a life-giving, serene, hard-working and joyful society, which without a broader spiritual outlook turns in on itself and leads to a dryness of heart, resulting in a society that loses its way and forgets the correct hierarchy of values.
Encouraging those present and the viewers, the Holy Father said our attitudes and actions must be sustained by an inner strength, which shelters them from the risk of being corrupted or of losing the ability to recognise the value of work and the need to carry it out with dedication and devotion.
Reflecting on the theme and logo for the Papal Visit, the Holy Father said the Spiritual values infuse a soul and inspire and strengthen every project.
“The motto sums this up in one word: pray. A people that prays has a future, drawing strength and hope from above. The image of the bird of paradise on the logo is a symbol of freedom that no one and nothing can stifle because it is within us and is guarded by God who is love and wants his children o be free”.
The Holy Father called on those who profess to be Christians to live their faith.
“Faith can become a lived culture, inspiring minds and actions and becoming a beacon of light that illuminates the path forward. It can also help society as a whole to grow and find good and effective solutions to its greatest challenges”.
Commending the Christian communities for the works of charity they are carrying out in the country, the Holy Father urged them to always seek cooperation with public institutions and with all people of good will, beginning with their brothers and sisters belonging to other Christian denominations and other religions, for the sake of the common good of all the citizens of Papua New Guinea.
To conclude his speech, the Holy Father thanked the PNG Government and its people for opening the doors of our beautiful country, so far from Rome, yet so close to the heart of the Catholic Church.
The Holy Father was graced by a violinist team during his short stay at APEC Haus. He also met Lady Veronica, the wife of PNG’s first Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare. Sir Julius Chan and other MPs including Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso were also present at APEC Haus during the visit.
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