ROME (ITALPRESS) – Pope Francis has arrived in Vanimo, the “periphery of the periphery,” on the northwest coast of Papua New Guinea, where he met with the faithful of the diocese in the esplanade in front of the Cathedral. About 11,000 people live in the town, some of them in villages in impenetrable jungles. Argentine missionaries have been working here for decades, including some friends of Pope Francis, who introduced him to this reality. The pontiff brings with him suitcases of food, medicines, toys and basic necessities.
Before traveling to Vanimo, at the Angelus at the end of the Mass celebrated at the Port Moresby stadium, one of the last events of the visit to Papua New Guinea, he had made a new appeal for peace: “From this land blessed by the Creator, I would like together with you to invoke, through the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the gift of peace for all peoples. In particular, I ask this for this great region of the world between Asia, Oceania and the Pacific Ocean. Peace, peace for the nations and also for creation.” “No to rearmament and exploitation of the common home! Yes to the encounter between peoples and cultures, yes to the harmony of man with creatures!” he added.
– Ipa photo –
(ITALPRESS).