Pope Francis arrived in Papua New Guinea on Friday evening after departing from Indonesia, as part of his ambitious 12-day journey across Southeast Asia and Oceania. The papal plane touched down in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, where the pope will spend the next three nights.
Upon his arrival, the 87-year-old pontiff exited the aircraft in a wheelchair and was greeted on the tarmac by Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso along with prominent members of the Catholic Church in the nation. Local children welcomed him with gifts as a military band performed the Vatican anthem.
Following a brief ceremonial welcome at the airport, Pope Francis made his way to the Vatican embassy for the evening. His initial public appearance in Papua New Guinea is scheduled for Saturday morning, where he will address political leaders.
During his time in the country, the pope plans to take a day trip to the northwestern town of Vanimo before departing on Monday. He is set to continue his journey with visits to East Timor and Singapore before returning to Rome on September 13.
In Indonesia, the pope emphasized the need for political leaders to combat religious extremism. He also visited Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, and signed a joint declaration with the national grand imam, urging Catholics and Muslims to work together to address the pressing issue of climate change.
Climate concerns are expected to be a key topic during his visit to Papua New Guinea, where local leaders have attributed various natural disasters, including a landslide in March that resulted in over 2,000 fatalities, to climate change. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has consistently highlighted the significance of environmental issues.
With this latest flight, the pope will have traveled approximately 16,000 kilometers (about 10,000 miles) on this overseas trip, marking his longest journey to date. By the conclusion of his travels back to Rome, he will have covered nearly 33,000 kilometers (20,500 miles).