Pope Francis arrived in Papua New Guinea on Friday evening after his visit to Indonesia, as part of an extensive 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania. His flight landed in Port Moresby, where he will reside for three nights.
Upon his arrival, the 87-year-old pontiff used a wheelchair to exit the plane and was greeted on the tarmac by Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso and prominent members of the Catholic Church in the country. Local children welcomed him with gifts, accompanied by a military band playing the Vatican anthem.
Following a short welcoming ceremony at the airport, the pope was taken to the Vatican embassy for the evening. His first public engagement will be an address to political leaders scheduled for Saturday morning.
During his time in Papua New Guinea, Francis is set to make a day trip to Vanimo before leaving the country on Monday. He will then continue to East Timor and Singapore, with his return to Rome planned for September 13.
In Indonesia, Francis emphasized the need for political leaders to combat religious extremism. He also visited Istiqlal Mosque—the largest mosque in Southeast Asia—and signed a joint declaration with the national grand imam. This declaration called for immediate action from both Catholics and Muslims to push global leaders to tackle climate change.
Climate change is anticipated to be a focal point during the pope’s visit to Papua New Guinea, where officials attribute recent natural disasters, including a landslide in March that resulted in over 2,000 fatalities, to climate issues. Throughout his papacy, the pope has consistently highlighted the importance of environmental concerns.
With this flight, Pope Francis’s travels for this overseas trip will total approximately 16,000 kilometers (about 10,000 miles), marking his longest journey to date. By the time he returns to Rome, the cumulative distance will reach nearly 33,000 kilometers (20,500 miles).