Pope Francis Visits Remote Papua New Guinea Town, Bringing Message of Unity

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Pope Francis traveled to the remote town of Vanimo on Papua New Guinea's northwest coast after holding a mass in the capital, Port Moresby, where around 35,000 people attended. In Vanimo, the pope was welcomed by the local Catholic community, many served by missionaries from Argentina. He brought nearly a tonne of humanitarian aid and toys to the region’s faithful and missionaries.

Speaking to 20,000 people outside the town's modest cathedral, Pope Francis praised the area's natural beauty and emphasized the importance of solidarity, saying, "You are doing something beautiful, and it is important that you are not left alone." His visit to Vanimo is part of a four-nation tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, which includes stops in Indonesia, East Timor, and Singapore.

The visit brought the small town to a standstill, with roads closed and shops shut. Father Augustine Prado, a long-time friend of the pope, invited him to visit Vanimo in 2019. The missionaries run a parish, a school, and a home for girls who have suffered violence. Locals lined the roads to Baro, a nearby village, hoping to see the pope. Special permission was granted for Indonesian Catholics to cross the border to attend the event.

Earlier, in Port Moresby, the pope highlighted the church’s focus on distant communities, telling worshippers that although they may feel remote, God is near.