Pope Francis to Catholics in Vanimo: ‘You are doing something beautiful’

VANIMO – Pope Francis arrived Sunday in one of Papua New Guinea’s most remote dioceses to offer spiritual and material solace to people living on the fringes of society, some in communities so isolated they can only be reached by hacking through dense jungle with a machete.

During his 600-mile flight from the national capital, Port Moresby, to Vanimo, the Vatican said the pope took with him eight suitcases, each weighing about 65 pounds, containing food, medicine, toys and basic goods, as well as containers for the food that would otherwise spoil quickly in the tropical climate. The pope also reportedly packed a pair of chasubles for altar boys.

On a spiritual level, Pope Francis also brought a message of hope to a crowd estimated at around 20,000, urging the faithful to spread God’s beauty and love wherever they go. Speaking to members of the local church in the remote diocese of Vanimo, he called on everyone to be a missionary in the places where they live, bearing witness to Christ at home, at school, at work and everywhere else they go.

He urged them to do this ‘so that everywhere – in the forests, villages and towns – the beauty of the landscape is matched by the beauty of a community where people love each other.’

Doing this will promote harmony and overcome divisions, whether personal or tribal, he said. It will also help “drive out fear, superstition and magic from the hearts of people and put an end to destructive behaviors such as violence, infidelity, exploitation, alcohol and drug abuse.”

Witchcraft and black magic are still common in Papua New Guinea, with some who practice them resorting to violence. On the other hand, those who are wrongly accused of these practices can also face stigmatization and violence.

Destructive tendencies such as magic, violence, addiction and infidelity, the pope said, are “evils that imprison and take away the happiness of so many of our brothers and sisters, even in this country. Let us remember that love is stronger than all this and that its beauty can heal the world, because it has its roots in God. Let us spread it and defend it, even if this may lead to misunderstandings and opposition.”

Pope Francis flew to Vanimo, located in Papua New Guinea’s northwestern Sandaun province near the border with Indonesia, on Sunday after celebrating Mass in Port Moresby and holding a brief private meeting with Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape.

In a greeting to the Pope after his arrival in Vanimo, local Bishop Francis Meli called the Pope’s presence in Vanimo, the first time a Pope has visited the area, a “milestone in promoting hope and unity, but also love and harmony among cultures, ethnic groups, tribes, languages ​​and nations.”

“Your visit is a symbol of peace in a world marked by conflict and war, violence, especially gender-based violence, inequality, sorcery-related violence (SVR), climate change, white-collar crime and problems with the rule of law,” he said.

Pope Francis spoke to five people in Vanimo, including Sister Jaisha Joseph, who represents six congregations of women religious. She highlighted their work in teaching, accompanying families, teaching children and youth life skills and caring for the poor, especially young girls.

Steven Abala, a catechist, spoke of his work as beautiful but sacrificial, working mainly in remote areas to prepare people for the sacraments and helping with Sunday services, as it can be weeks or even months before a priest visits. He said challenges such as school fees, housing and health care force many catechists to leave, and more are needed.

David and Maria Kulo shared their marital experiences and expressed the hope that their testimony would inspire other young couples in the country to get married.

Maria Joseph, a 12-year-old girl who was born with bow legs, shared her experiences with the help of the Lujan Center for Girls, run by a group of nuns from Argentina, and her studies at the Holy Trinitarian Humanistic Junior High School, run by a group of Argentine priests.

She said it was thanks to the sisters at the Lujan Center that she not only received surgeries that allowed her to stand and walk again, but also received the love of a family.

Pope Francis noted that missionaries first came to the area in the mid-19th century, and that since then consecrated people, catechists and lay missionaries “have not stopped preaching the word of God and offering help to their brothers and sisters through pastoral care, education, health care and many other ways.” They have persevered despite difficulties, he said, and as a result churches, schools, hospitals and mission centers were established that continue to serve society today.

Referring to the natural beauty of the land, the Pope told the people of Vanimo that they are “experts in beauty, because you are surrounded by it!”

“One cannot help but be amazed by the colours, sounds and smells, as well as by the grandiose spectacle of nature bursting with life, all evoking the image of Eden!” he said, adding that the beauty around them had been given to them as “a sign and instrument” to enable them “to live in harmony with him and with your brothers and sisters, respecting our common home and caring for one another.” However, this beauty, he stressed, is subordinate to “what grows within us when we love one another.”

“Our mission is indeed to spread the beauty of the Gospel of Christ everywhere, loving God and our brothers and sisters,” he said, noting that many catechists and missionaries travel long distances to reach remote communities, sometimes even leaving their homes. In doing so, the pope said, “you do something beautiful, and it is important that you are not left alone.”

“The entire community must support this effort so that you can carry out your service with complete serenity, especially when you have to reconcile the demands of the mission with your family responsibilities,” he said, pointing to the example of Blessed Peter To Rot, a husband, father and catechist.

Pope Francis noted that when tourists come to Papua New Guinea, they often leave thinking they have seen paradise, citing the country’s natural beauty. “We know, however, that this is not the greatest treasure here. There is a more beautiful and fascinating treasure that is found in your hearts and that manifests itself in the charity with which you love one another,” he said.

Photo: Vatican swimming pool

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