Sustainable and equitable development “that promotes the well-being of all, no one excluded” and stops “the tribal violence that unfortunately causes many victims” and “does not allow us to live in peace” by hindering development. Pope Francis in the first of the official speeches of his trip to Papua New Guinea in front of about 300 political and religious leaders, ambassadors, entrepreneurs, representatives of civil society and culture, recalled the responsibility that comes from the extraordinary cultural and environmental wealth of the archipelago, to be used to win the challenge of harmony of differences that can give the world “a sign of brotherhood”. And he launched an appeal so that “the spiral of violence” in the country must be interrupted to take “the path that leads to fruitful collaboration, for the benefit of the entire Papuan people”. At the beginning of his speech, Francis underlined how the great resources of the earth and water, “are destined by God for the entire community”. Therefore, even if for their exploitation “it is necessary to involve broader skills and large international companies”, it is right that “in the distribution of the proceeds and in the use of the workforce” we look at the “needs of the local populations, so as to produce an effective improvement in their living conditions”. For the Pope, “a necessary condition” to obtain “lasting results is the stability of the institutions”, “an indispensable requirement for integral and supportive development”. It requires, he added, “a long-term vision and a climate of collaboration among all, despite the distinction of roles and the difference of opinions”.
And here is the appeal for “an end to tribal violence” and for “the question of the status of the island of Bougainville to be resolved, avoiding the rekindling of ancient tensions”. The island has been the scene, since 1989, of a bloody secessionist guerrilla war, which ended only in 1998 with the granting of broad autonomy. With this agreement “on the foundations of civil society”, Bergoglio continued, it will be possible to work together to “improve infrastructure, address the health and educational needs of the population and increase opportunities for dignified work”. However, he continued, “even if we sometimes forget it, human beings need, in addition to the necessities of life, a great hope in their hearts” that gives them “the courage to undertake far-reaching projects” allowing “to raise one’s gaze upwards and towards vast horizons“.
“The abundance of material goods, without this breath of the soul – Bergoglio specified -, is not enough to give life to a vital and serene, industrious and joyful society, indeed, it makes it fold in on itself. The aridity of the heart makes it lose its bearings and forget the right scale of values; it takes away its impetus and blocks it to the point – as happens in some opulent societies – that it loses hope in the future and no longer finds reasons to transmit life and faith to future generations”. The Pope also recalled the motto and logo of the trip to Papua New Guinea, “Pray” and clarified that “a people who pray has a future, drawing strength and hope from above“. And the emblem of the bird of paradise, in the logo, is a symbol “of that freedom that nothing and no one can suffocate because it is internal, and is guarded by God who is love and wants his children to be free”. For this reason his hope is that for all the Christians of the archipelago, who are 95% of the inhabitants, “faith is never reduced to the observance of rites and precepts, but that it consists in loving Jesus Christ and following him”.
Continuing the commitment to fight climate change is instead what he asked the Pontiff the Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Bob Bofend Dadae in his introductory speech to the meeting. “Climate change is real. Rising sea levels are impacting the livelihoods of our people in remote islands,” he said, also focusing on respect for the rights of women, children, the elderly and the vulnerable, and noting how the government also financially supports the Church’s commitment to children and communities through education, health and spiritual care.