“May Saint Michael the Archangel, Heavenly Patron of Papua New Guinea, always watch over you, defend you from all danger and protect the authorities and all the people of this country.” This was His Holiness Pope Francis’ parting message to the Government Ministers, MPs, authorities, members of diplomatic corps, business houses and local representatives at the APEC Haus on Saturday morning. After his arrival on Friday night, Pope Francis began his first full day in PNG by meeting with the nation’s authorities, representatives of civil society, and the diplomatic corps.
But he first paid a courtesy call to the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Bob Dadae, who also offered warm words of welcome for the Pope at APEC Haus, recalling the history of the Catholic Church in the country and the contributions it has made and continues to make to society. The Governor-General had welcomed the Pope privately to Government House just before the meeting with all the authorities and diplomats. Pope Francis thanked Sir Bob for opening “the doors of your beautiful country, so far from Rome and yet so close to the heart of the Catholic Church”.
He paid tribute to the nation’s people, inhabiting an archipelago with hundreds of islands and where more than 800 languages are spoken, each representing unique ethnic groups, calling it “an extraordinary cultural richness”. The Pope remarked that the country is also rich in natural resources, which “goods are destined by God.