Pope Francis arrived in Papua New Guinea on Friday evening, marking the second stop in his ambitious 12-day tour through Southeast Asia and Oceania. The pontiff arrived in the capital, Port Moresby, on a Garuda Indonesia flight, where he will spend the next three nights.
Upon his arrival, Francis exited the plane using his wheelchair and was welcomed on the tarmac by Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso and senior Catholic Church officials from the country. Local children presented him with gifts while a military band played the Vatican anthem.
Following a short ceremony at the airport, the pope headed to the Vatican embassy for the night. His first public engagement is scheduled for Saturday morning, where he will address political leaders.
During his visit to Papua New Guinea, Francis will take a day trip to the northwestern town of Vanimo before leaving the country on Monday. His itinerary includes upcoming visits to East Timor and Singapore, with his return to Rome set for September 13.
In Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, the pope called on political leaders to guard against religious extremism. He visited Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, where he signed a joint declaration with the national grand imam advocating for concerted action by Catholics and Muslims to combat climate change.
This environmental theme is expected to continue during his visit to Papua New Guinea, where leaders have attributed recent natural disasters, including a landslide that killed at least 2,000 people in March, to climate change. Throughout his 11-year papacy, the pope has prioritized environmental issues.
With this latest flight, the pope has traveled approximately 16,000 kilometers (around 10,000 miles) on this overseas trip, which is the longest of his papacy. By the time he returns to Rome, his total travel distance will reach nearly 33,000 kilometers (20,500 miles).