Pope Francis looks down as he leads holy mass at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on September 8, 2024. Pope Francis is leading holy mass at the Sir Guise Stadium during his four day visit to Papua New Guinea from September 6-9. Tiziana Fabi, AFP

Pope Francis looks down as he leads holy mass at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on September 8, 2024. - Pope Francis is leading holy mass at the Sir Guise Stadium during his four day visit to Papua New Guinea from September 6-9. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

Pope Francis

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1725786202712AFP__20240907__36FT6B8__v3__Preview__TopshotPngVaticanPopeReligion.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Pope Francis looks down as he leads holy mass at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on September 8, 2024. Pope Francis is leading holy mass at the Sir Guise Stadium during his four day visit to Papua New Guinea from September 6-9. Tiziana Fabi, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pope Francis looks down as he leads holy mass at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on September 8, 2024. Pope Francis is leading holy mass at the Sir Guise Stadium during his four day visit to Papua New Guinea from September 6-9. <em>Tiziana Fabi, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>VANIMO, Papua New Guinea -- Pope Francis visited a remote jungle-flanked community in Papua New Guinea Sunday, where he urged an end to violence, and &quot;superstition and magic&quot; that tarnishes a place he likened to Eden.</p><p>The 87-year-old pontiff touched down in Vanimo, a coastal town a few degrees south of the equator, as he marked the halfway point of a grueling 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific.</p><p>Donning a traditional Bird of Paradise feathered headdress despite the stiffing tropical heat, the pope drove home his pledge to embrace people and places on &quot;the periphery&quot;.</p><p>He described Vanimo as a &quot;grandiose spectacle of nature bursting forth with life, all evoking the image of Eden&quot;.</p><p>He was greeted as a guest of honor by bare-chested Walsa tribesmen with body paint, ornate headdresses and bands made of feathers, shells and grass, who performed a ceremonial dance.</p><p>The pope thanked the assembled thousands, some of whom had walked or sailed for days to come and see him, and praised the &quot;contagious smiles and your exuberant joy&quot; of local children.</p><p>But he also painted this as a troubled paradise.</p><p>He urged the faithful and a handful of local missionaries to help &quot;overcome divisions -- personal, family and tribal&quot; and &quot;to drive out fear, superstition and magic from people&#x27;s hearts&quot;.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/7/in-papua-new-guinea-pope-holds-mass-at-the-edge-of-the-world-721">READ: In Papua New Guinea, Pope holds mass &#x27;at the edge of the world&#x27;</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/7/pope-tells-papua-new-guinea-leaders-natural-resources-must-benefit-all-1337">READ: Pope tells Papua New Guinea leaders natural resources must benefit all</a></div><div><strong>- Religion alongside local beliefs -</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3068138"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script></div><p>These and other evils, he said, &quot;imprison and take away the happiness of so many of our brothers and sisters, even in this country&quot;.</p><p>More than 90 percent of Papua New Guinea&#x27;s 12 million residents call themselves Christian, and about quarter of those are Catholic.</p><p>But the religion sits alongside a panoply of local beliefs, customs and rites -- some of which spark bloody zeal.</p><p>Pockets of Papua New Guinea are plagued by tribal violence and deeply rooted beliefs about the existence of witchcraft.</p><p>Village mobs routinely round up those falsely accused of black magic, usually women, murdering them in gruesome ordeals.</p><p>Australian researchers have estimated about 3,000 deaths in over the last 20 years.</p><p>The pope urged his flock to tackle such social ills head on, and to remake the image of their nation.</p><p>&quot;Make Papua New Guinea famous not only for its variety of plant and animal life, its enchanting beaches and clear sea, but famous above all for the good people you meet here,&quot; he said.</p><p>It is a message that has resonated with Papua New Guineans, many of whom hope the pope&#x27;s visit can transform their nation.</p><p>Earlier Sunday, the pope held a mass for 35,000 people in the capital, Port Moresby.</p><p>Margaret Clive, an elderly street vendor in the capital, said that many people had complained about the pope&#x27;s visit, asking what it would bring them.</p><p>&quot;I am happy Pope is here&quot; she said. &quot;He is a world religious leader bringing the message of peace.&quot;</p><p>&quot;There is a lot of violence against women and children, here in the city, the youth are snatching bags from mothers who market.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Christian principles are hidden while our sinful ways are transparent, we need change.&quot;</p><p>The pope will finish his visit to Papua New Guinea on Monday, giving a stadium address to young people before flying to East Timor.</p><p>There he will encounter a resolutely Catholic nation, but one in which the clergy has been beset by child abuse scandals.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gcd491FXRiw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Pope Francis visited a remote jungle-flanked community in Papua New Guinea Sunday, where he urged an end to violence, and "superstition and magic" that tarnishes a place he likened to Eden.</p>

Pope Francis visited a remote jungle-flanked community in Papua New Guinea Sunday, where he urged an end to violence, and "superstition and magic" that tarnishes a place he likened to Eden.

Sporting a feathered headdress, Pope finds 'Eden' in Papua New Guinea | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

World

Sporting a feathered headdress, Pope finds 'Eden' in Papua New Guinea

Sporting a feathered headdress, Pope finds 'Eden' in Papua New Guinea

Agence France-Presse,

Clément Melki

Published Sep 08, 2024 05:40 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 08, 2024 11:50 PM PHT

Read More:

absnews

religion

Catholic Church

Pope Francis

Vanimo

Papua New Guinea

Southeast Asia

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2024 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2024 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.