Agencies;- Pope Francis on Saturday called for an end to tribal conflicts that have plagued Papua New Guinea for decades and appealed for equitable development of its natural resources during a visit that also highlighted the problem of violence against women in the country.
Dancers dressed in traditional grass skirts performed for the Argentine pontiff on his first full day in the South Pacific nation, with an agenda that mixed political and religious matters. He met with the governor general and regional leaders before visiting local priests and nuns and homeless children.
Francis is on an 11-day tour of four countries in Southeast Asia and Oceania, the longest and most complicated of his papacy. He landed in Port Moresby, the capital of the Commonwealth island nation, on Friday evening from Jakarta, Indonesia, to begin the second part of his trip.
During his speech to government officials and diplomats, Francis joked about the diversity of the population – around 800 languages are spoken in the country – and said that the variety should be “a challenge for the Holy Spirit, who creates harmony from differences.”
He also stressed that such diversity has generated conflict over the years, a reference to tribal violence over territorial and other disputes that have long characterized the country’s culture but have become more lethal in recent years. The pope called for a sense of civic responsibility and cooperation to prevail for the benefit of all.
“I particularly hope for an end to tribal aggression, which unfortunately causes many victims, does not allow people to live in peace and hinders development,” he said.
