Rome (Italy). From 3 to 13 September 2024, Pope Francis will make his 45th apostolic journey, the longest of his pontificate, to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.
Once again, the Holy Father will be in these countries a messenger of peace, fraternity and hope, and an expression of closeness, as Cardinal Secretary of State Vatican Pietro Parolin stressed on the eve of the trip:
“The first hope that Pope Francis carries in his heart is that of encounter: to personally meet the people of the countries he will visit. In other words, it is a question of once again rethinking the theme of closeness, of proximity which so characterizes the style of his pontificate and of which apostolic journeys are an important expression. It is closeness to listen, closeness to take charge of difficulties, of the sufferings and expectations of the people, closeness to bring to all the joy, consolation and hope of the Gospel. Paraphrasing Saint Paul VI, I would say that the more distant – geographically – are the countries to which he goes, the more the Holy Father feels this urgency in his heart” (Source: Vatican News).
It is the hope and joy of these populations so far from Rome and the Pope, who live this visit as a blessing, as expressed by Mrs. Mayette Carvajal, teacher at the School of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mary Help of Christians Vocational Education Training and FODE Center (MHCVETFC) in East Boroko, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea:
“From 6 to 9 September, Pope Francis will be with us. This is the second time I have met him in person. But his visit to Papua New Guinea will be more significant, because I will see him close-up and for three days. As a teacher and staff member of MHCVETFC, I am very happy that my students, who are poor and far from Rome, have the chance to meet the Pope.
On 7 September, I will be present at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians as a Religion teacher; on 8 September, as a faithful lay woman and choir member during the Eucharistic Celebration at “Sir John Guise” Stadium in Port Moresby, and on 9 September, in the same Stadium, I will be present at the encounter with the young people.
I look forward to this great historical and spiritual visit of Pope Francis. Not many have this opportunity. God bless Papua New Guinea during this event.”
“Pray” is the motto of the visit to Papua New Guinea, inspired by the disciples’ request to Jesus “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk 11:1), with which Papuan Christians make themselves interpreters of all the people in expressing their desire to learn to pray, with the Pope’s guidance.
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians present in these Countries – of the Province of St. Mary D. Mazzarello (TIN) of Timor and Indonesia, and St. Mary D. Mazzarello (FIL) of the Philippines and Papua New Guinea await with joy and prayer the arrival of the Holy Father and will participate in some of the events together with the laity of the Educating Communities and young people.
