Pope Francis Spends Time with Argentine Missionaries in Remote Town of Papua New Guinea

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Boarding an Australian Air Force C-130 plane, Pope Francis flew on a 1.5-hour trip from the easternmost of Papua New Guinea to its westernmost, Vanimo.

The Pope brought with him food, medicines, sweets, toys, and aid for Vanimo residents. Some staff close to the Vatican said Pope Francis was enthusiastic about Vanimo despite the distance to Port Moresby.

In the Sandaun capital bordering directly with Jayapura, Pope Francis intended to meet with five missionaries native to Argentina. 

Arriving in Vanimo at noon after leading a mass for 35,000 people at John Guise Stadium, the Pope praised the beauty of Papua New Guinea. "Dear friends, after visiting your country, many tourists return home saying that they have seen paradise," said Pope Francis on Sunday.

The residents welcomed the Pope enthusiastically. People gathered in a field one kilometer from Vanimo Airport. Some were seen waving Papua New Guinea flags. Others came from Indonesia. A local committee staff member said that in Vanimo, 200 Indonesians came to greet the Pope.

Residents gave the Pope a bird-of-paradise crown. “Viva Il Papa!” they cried when Jorge Mario Bergoglio–Pope Francis’ birth name–wore the crown. 

After blessing and praising the beauty of Papua New Guinea, the Pope delivered a message. He said that beauty is not the only treasure for the people. The most valuable gift for the people of Papua New Guinea, the Pope said, is mutual respect. “Especially because of the good people you meet here,” the Pope said.

After meeting more than a thousand residents in Vanimo, the Pope met with the Church community. The private meeting gathered the native Argentinian missionaries with Pope Francis, one of which was Martin Prado. He was one of the people who introduced Vanimo to Pope Francis.

Martin was the first to greet Pope Francis when the Holy Father arrived in Vanimo on Sunday afternoon. To several journalists who followed the Pope’s flight to Vanimo, Martin explained that he had invited Pope Francis to Vanimo and the Pope promised to visit.

Meeting at Santha Martha

Martin was first introduced to the Pope in 2019. Five years ago, Martin and his parish community in Vanimo made a pilgrimage to the Vatican. 

Upon arrival, they tried to meet Pope Francis at the Santha Martha House (Domus Sanctae Marthae) where the Pope resided. However, the group was rejected by the Swiss Guard as the area was sterile.

Martin left a message for the Pope, stating that he was a native Argentine missionary living in Papua New Guinea. The next morning, when Martin and his group left Santha Martha, he received an email from Pope Francis, inviting them to meet. "I finally met Pope Francis for the first time at that time," said Martin. 

Martin spoke Spanish. A journalist from Spanish National Radio, Jordi Barcia, helped translate it into English.

Martin, 36, said he came to Papua New Guinea because he heard from a friend that the country needed help to develop education and health. Missionaries in Vanimo also only started about 60 years ago. He arrived in Vanimo when he was 29.

Martin then explained that the main issues in Papua New Guinea, aside from education and health, also concerned women and mining. At the end of his meeting with Pope Francis in 2019, Martin asked the Pope to visit Vanimo.

After meeting with the missionaries, Pope Francis met with nuns and blessed the 25 statues of Our Lady of Lujan, the patron saint of Argentina. The Pope returned to Papua New Guinea after meeting with them.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA

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