By UCA News reporter
Pope Francis has urged Catholic clergy and catechists in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to courageously reach out to the nation’s peripheries and “evangelize patiently.”
Francis met with the bishops of PNG and the Solomon Islands on Sep 7 at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in PNG’s national capital, Port Moresby.
The pope invited them to always be courageous in making new beginnings and maintain hope in the fruitfulness of their mission.
“Evangelize patiently without allowing ourselves to be discouraged by difficulties or misunderstandings, even when they arise in places where we especially do not want to encounter them,” Francis said.
Francis reiterated the need to reach out to the peripheries, a key focus of his pontificate.
“I think of people belonging to the most deprived segments of urban populations, as well as those who live in the most remote and abandoned areas where sometimes basic necessities are lacking,” Francis emphasized.
The meeting included testimonies from a priest, a religious sister, a laywoman who attended the Synod on Synodality in the Vatican, and a lay catechist who bore witness to the challenges they faced in their respective ministries.
The pope said that, based on Grace Wrakia’s testimonial at the meeting, it is possible to show how beautiful it is to follow Jesus together and proclaim His gospel among people.
Wrakia participated in the Synod on Synodality in the Vatican. She was among the laypersons given voting rights at a synod.
Meanwhile, a catechist highlighted her challenges in the mission.
She said she enjoyed “walking through the villages and serving the people.” However, she lamented that due to lack of financial resources, she had to seek assistance from the villagers and even sell vegetables from her garden.
The catechist also pointed out the challenging task of traveling to distant mission stations, balancing her pastoral work and family, challenges and criticism from other denominations, and fewer people committing to be catechists.
“Regardless of all these challenges, I am happy and enjoy what I am doing,” she added.
In response to her testimony, Francis pointed out that no proven techniques exist for conveying enthusiasm for the mission to young people.
However, he suggested cultivating and sharing “our joy of being the Church” with them as the only proven way.
Francis again reminded his audience about the need to be close to the “brothers and sisters” who belong to the peripheries of Papua New Guinea.
“Because in them Jesus is present in a special way, and where He, our head, is present, there are we, His members,” Francis emphasized.
“Please do not forget about this closeness, being close to everybody. The attitude and the ways of God consist of three behaviors: compassion, closeness, and tenderness,” Francis said.
Francis praised the early missionaries, both foreign and indigenous, who brought the faith to Papua New Guinea.
“It is thanks to them, to their ‘starts’ and ‘restarts,’ that we are here, and that despite the current challenges… we continue to move forward without fear, knowing we are not alone,” he said.
Finally, Pope Francis looked to the Shrine’s “catechesis through images,” especially the images of the Old Testament patriarchs who were made fruitful through faith.
“This is an important symbol because it also encourages us today to have confidence in the fruitfulness of our apostolate,” he added.
Francis exhorted all pastoral workers in Papua New Guinea: “Carry on your mission,” he said, “as witnesses of courage, beauty and hope!” – UCA News
