At Sir John Guise Stadium β where the Holy Father will preside over Holy Mass on Sunday, 8 September, and address young people on Monday, 9 Sunday β the playing field, which is usually reserved for rugby and football matches, has been transformed into an ensemble of colorful clothing and traditional chants and songs testifying to the vast cultural and linguistic diversity of this island country in Oceania. And already yesterday I was tearing up, because this is a Pope who is in his wheelchair; he is almost 88 years old, but he has a heart for Papua New Guinea.
I want to be with them. It's a sentiment echoed by many Catholics who have gathered in Port Moresby. Caught up in the excitement and joy of preparing for a long overdue papal visit β Saint John Paul II was the last pontiff to travel to the country, in β one can almost forget the hardships many people in the capital city and other parts of Papua New Guinea face on a daily basis.
The streets lined with people selling clothing from makeshift tables under shabby umbrellas, a run-down primary schoolhouse recognizable as such only because of the children in their navy and white uniforms playing outside, are visible signs of the poor infrastructure that dictates the lives of many Papuans. But their joy at the opportunity to welcome a guest as important as the Bishop of Rome is in no way diminished.
Some, like John Junior Dinz, even made multi-day journeys, by bus, by plane or on foot, to participate in this historic event. He, his mother, Anna Dinz, and uncle, Christopher.
Kenneth, are part of a large group of people who made the trip from the Archdiocese of Mount Hagen to Port Moresby. I need to go and see the leader. I must see the Pope, and that could be a blessing for me. Take a pilgrimage, and you have to go. Go and see Pope Francis. Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here.
