He Pope Francis visited this Sunday a remote community in the middle of the jungle in Papua New Guineawhere he urged put an end to violence and “superstition and magic” that tarnish a place that he compared to the Eden.
The 87-year-old pontiff is immersed in a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceaniathe longest and most remote of his papacy, to promote the interreligious dialogue and take their message to the “peripheries”.
Francisco landed in Vanimoa coastal city located a few degrees south of the equator. Papua New Guinea is north of Australia.
Dressed in the traditional bird of paradise feather headdressdespite the intense tropical heat, described “the magnificent spectacle of nature teeming with life, evoking the image of Eden.”
Francisco was welcomed as a guest of honor by members of the local tribewho performed a traditional dance dressed in feather headdresses, bracelets made of shells and leaves, and their bodies covered in painted ornaments.
The Pope thanked the thousands of people gatheredsome of which They walked or sailed for days to attend the meeting and praised the children’s “contagious smiles” and “overflowing joy.”
But also He described the place as a turbulent paradise and called for “overcoming personal, family and tribal divisions.”as well as “to expel fear, superstition and magic from people’s hearts.”
These and other evils, he said, “They imprison and make unhappy so many brothers and sisters, even here”.
More than 90% of Papua New Guinea’s 12 million people declare themselves Christiansand about a quarter are Catholic.
But religion coexists with a panoply of local beliefs, customs and ritessome of which unleash a bloody fervor.
Some areas of Papua New Guinea suffer Tribal violence linked to deeply held beliefs on the existence of the witchcraft.
In the villages, Mobs systematically round up those who are falsely accused of black magicgenerally womenand they kill them in horrible ordeals.
Australian researchers estimate that this type of violence has left around 3,000 dead in the last 20 years.
The Pope urged the faithful to confront these outbreaks of violence and remake the image of their nation.
Make Papua New Guinea famous not only for its variety of flora and fauna, its charming beaches and crystal-clear sea, but also and especially for the good people who are there,” the Argentine Jesuit insisted.
Many Papuans hope the Pope’s visit could transform their nation. Francis earlier celebrated an open-air mass for 35,000 people in the capital, Port Moresby.
Margaret Clive, a street vendor, said many people had complained about the Pope’s arrival and asked what he would bring them.
“I am happy that the Pope is here“, said. “He is a world religious leader who brings the message of peace.”
“There is a lot of violence against women and children here in the city, young people snatch bags from mothers who are selling goods”he described.
“Christian principles are hidden While our sinful ways are transparent, we need change,” he added.
The Pope will end his visit to Papua New Guinea on Monday with a speech at a stadium, before flying to East Timorwhich became independent in 2002 after more than four centuries of Portuguese colonization and 25 years of Indonesian occupation.
In this Southeast Asian country, with a Catholic majority, he will have to face the paedophilia scandals within the Church, largely ignored by the architects of independence.
(With information from AFP)
