According to Father Martín Prado of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, Christians in Papua New Guinea are eagerly preparing for the upcoming apostolic visit of Pope Francis.
By LiCAS News
The anticipation of Pope Francis’ arrival in Papua New Guinea on September 6 is palpable, especially in the coastal town of Vanimo, said Father Prado.
“Due to limited access to news and social media, not many people knew about his trip. We are all very excited and are working hard to welcome the Pope as best we can,” the priest said in an interview with the aid organization Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The local Catholic community makes extensive preparations, including evening prayers, the organization of hymns and culturally significant dances on the local football field, which has been converted for the occasion.
These gatherings attracted large crowds, a testament to the vibrant faith and community spirit in Vanimo, the priest said. “Some of the better attended evenings had thousands of people in attendance.”
He also emphasized the unique mix of different faith practices in the region, saying: “The faith of Christians here is very vibrant and very simple.”
“Many still interpret Christianity within the framework of their ancestors’ beliefs, making it difficult for them to gain a comprehensive understanding of Christianity,” he added.
The priest said missionary work in remote jungle areas has resulted in significant spiritual engagements, including baptisms and the introduction of the Gospel.
“In the jungle, for example, we had the opportunity to baptize entire families, teach them the sign of the cross and preach the gospel to them for the first time,” he said.
Despite these successes, merging ancestral faith with Christian teachings remains a challenge. Father Prado emphasized the community’s efforts to discern and educate.
“Our job as missionaries is to help Christians understand that these things don’t fit together and to try to bring about change,” he said.
The priest addressed the special challenges faced by young people, stressing that concepts of marriage and family life are vague and differ significantly from Western norms.
“Young people have no role models to follow or inspire them, and few have the support and guidance of their parents to commit to their spouse for life,” he said.
The missionary called for worldwide support through prayers and material assistance. He stressed the importance of praying for vocations, pointing to the recent increase in local vocations.
“Since then, the number of priests has doubled. We now see more vocations locally than before,” he said.
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