Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
by Fabio Beretta
Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) - The role of missionaries among the tribes, the work of the local Church in following the teachings of the Gospel and feel part of the universal Church, the joy and enthusiasm for the Pope's visit. Cardinal John Ribat, Archbishop of Port Moresby, gave Agenzia Fides an overview of the Christian community living in Papua New Guinea, destination of the second stage of the Apostolic Journey to Asia and Oceania.
The Pope will find a young Church, but one that already boasts of a martyr…
It is in fact a young Church that continues to grow, also thanks to the example of Peter To Rot, today blessed. For the moment, his canonization process is at a standstill because the miracle is lacking. This is one of the things we will ask the Pope: to intervene in the canonization process*. Our hope as a community is that this process will be completed within next year, so that we can see our catechist as a Saint very soon. Here in Papua New Guinea, the Church is young but the faith is strong, Catholics are enthusiastic about this papal visit.
Many people come to Port Moresby from the highlands and neighboring countries, but also from the suffragan dioceses. Many make pilgrimages on foot or by boat, always praying.
How important are the missionaries in Papua New Guinea? Why do you think the Pope chose to meet the missionaries in this country?
The missionaries arrived in this country several centuries ago. Compared to those first arrivals, they are fewer today, but the Christian community keeps in mind the beginnings of the missions, mainly thanks to the Germans and the Americans. Today, there are many in Papua New Guinea, scattered in many regions and in different dioceses. They come from India, the Philippines, Indonesia. But, as in the beginning, there are also some who come from Europe, like the Italian Salesians. In Vanimo, another city that the Pope will visit, there are missionaries from Argentina, his compatriots. The work of the missionaries is important to us, and not only because they continue to spread the Catholic faith. They encourage people, they work with them. And this is important. There is a good relationship between the missionaries and the people and this is due to the fact that several dioceses in Papua New Guinea, historically speaking, were founded by missionaries. And now, with the arrival of the Pontiff, the population is helping a lot with the preparation. Our Episcopal Conference unites Papua New Guinea with the Solomon Islands, and many people have also come from there to help us in the workings of the organization. If this climate of unity in faith exists here, we owe it to the missionaries.
In Papua New Guinea, there is fighting between tribes. Does the Church, if it does, intervene in any way?
The tribes fight among themselves, but in the seminaries, there are boys from different villages who live together peacefully.... These tribal fights do not occur everywhere. They occur mainly in the mountainous regions where, unlike the coastal regions, the Church has only arrived in the last few decades. These are villages that are difficult to access, whose customs and traditions are deeply rooted in the past. It is also an ecologically fragile area; we have recently experienced natural disasters that have killed several people. However, there are social tensions throughout the country. On January 10 this year, a riot broke out to protest a reduction in wages. In the city there were deaths, shops were looted, cars were set on fire... Today we are recovering. As a Church, we have released statements to the press, which are also read in churches. In these texts, in addition to condemning all forms of violence, we have given new keys to understanding the various problems and new laws because they had not been well explained. With tribal struggles it is different. We let ourselves be inspired by the Word of God.
For the second time, a Pope is visiting this nation: what can the local Catholic community offer to the universal Church?
This is a question that we, as a community, have been thinking about for weeks. We are trying to understand what we can do and how we can help others. A first "practical" response that we have given ourselves has been to send new missionaries. They have transmitted the faith to us and now we are ready to leave to help the Church grow where it is needed. Some of our priests are in Argentina or Brazil. Some have gone to Africa. But this is only a small contribution. We are also a growing Church and we strive to live well among ourselves the teachings of the Gospel and the doctrine of the universal Church. This gives us the feeling of being part of something universal. These events help us, they give us the impetus to live universality at home, by attending Mass.
What are the greatest challenges for the Church in Papua New Guinea to proclaim the Gospel today?
One of the challenges is the misinformation that comes from social media and elsewhere. As a Church, we have made it our task to help people understand when there is fake news. We are bombarded with so many messages and it creates confusion. In this sense, and I speak for myself, the words of Saint Paul have helped me a lot in speaking to people. And I wonder how the Church can preach the Gospel well in these times when changes are the order of the day. The answer I gave myself is this: if everything changes, the truth remains the same. And the truth, for us, is Christ. The Word of God, after 2000 years, is still the same, it has not changed. Some try to convey a wrong message, they interpret it to “adapt” it to the changes in the world. But this is not the truth.
Although Papua New Guinea is a small flock, according to official figures, the number of baptisms and vocations is increasing: how do you explain this?
Vocations are increasing because young people, but also older people, want to contribute to doing something important for their country. The Church has always encouraged them in this way. Young people, in particular, occupy an important place in the life of the Church. Before entering the seminary, many begin by exercising the most diverse professions, but always at the service of their neighbor. And little by little, they feel that what they do is not enough for their development. Baptisms are also increasing, but this is also due to population growth. But I also see that more and more young people are getting married. These are young people whom the Church has helped to grow in faith and who can now say that they have fulfilled themselves in life. (Agenzia Fides, 6/9/2024)
*There are cases that proceed by equivalence, applied to the two cases of beatification and canonization; it is a procedure by which the Pope, after verification, approves a cult that has existed for some time, without waiting for a miracle to recognize it. It differs from formal beatifications and canonizations, for which the Church provides for a regular investigation and the corresponding miracle. Furthermore, the Pope can always make special decisions. Pope Francis did this for John XXIII, who became a Saint because of his reputation for holiness, which had been widespread throughout the world for decades, without a second miracle being recognized. An extraordinary procedure was also followed by Benedict XVI with regard to Saint John Paul II, whose cause for canonization was opened a few weeks after his death, without waiting the required five years (from the website of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints).
