Pope Francis Visits Papua New Guinea Amid Interfaith and Environmental Focus

Pope Francis arrived in Papua New Guinea, the second leg of his four-nation Southeast Asia and Oceania trip. Greeted with a cannon salute and a marching band, his visit highlights social justice, interfaith dialogue, and environmental concerns. He continues to uplift the local Catholic community and address broader regional issues.

Pope Francis arrived in Papua New Guinea on Friday for the second leg of his journey through Southeast Asia and Oceania, marking the second papal visit to the pivotal South Pacific nation.

The 87-year-old pope was greeted by a cannon salute and a marching band at Port Moresby's airport. During a brief welcome ceremony, Pope Francis momentarily lost his balance but was helped by security guards.

Indonesian police detained seven people suspected of threatening papal events on social media. The police believe the threats were mainly for publicity, but investigations are ongoing. Francis' Indonesia visit concluded with a mass attended by 100,000 people, as he urged them to build a peaceful society and strengthened interfaith ties.

Francis' Papua New Guinea visit aligns with his social justice priorities. The nation has over 10 million people, most of whom are subsistence farmers. His visit aims to foster harmony amidst tribal conflicts and raise awareness on environmental issues.

Francis will travel to remote Vanimo to visit Catholic missionaries from Argentina working with tribal communities. His visit will focus on promoting peace and addressing climate change challenges affecting the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)