Reflections of the Papal Visit to Papua New Guinea by Archbishop Peter Loy Chong

Pope Francis’ vulnerability and his closeness to vulnerable people is a key theme that I take away from his PNG pastoral visit. Pope Francis moves around in his wheelchair. He has to make two movements to get up from his chair at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Church. But he does this with a sense of humor and comfort.

He gifts people with his very presence, as he moves up or down the aisle, shaking peoples’ hands, meeting people, embracing and kissing people, taking a few minutes to greet a mass of people in a stadium or church, and being present to the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis is present with his vulnerability as he often asks people to pray for him.

Pope Francis’s vulnerability, closeness, and presence to vulnerable people exemplify a form of power that draws and touches peoples’ hearts. Here, vulnerability is a form of power that invites and moves peoples’ hearts. Pope Francis follows very closely Jesus’ vulnerable path to the cross.

These are my 10 takeaways from Pope Francis’ Papua New Guinea visit:

1. COMPASSION: Pope Francis, while limited to his wheelchair still ministers Jesus’ compassion – that is, to suffer with people. He practiced what St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:6-7 says about Jesus – ‘Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God, something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being.’
2. TENDERNESS: Jesus reaches out to vulnerable people and those on the periphery. He comfortably touches, embraces, and gazes on people’s faces with a gentle smile. He does not make rousing speeches or sermons but speaks with authority because he speaks gently from his heart. His voice is a mother’s gentle voice to her children. His face is that of a lover reaching out to his beloved, the people of God.
3. CLOSENESS: God is close to vulnerable people. God always takes the side of victims. Pope Francis’ pastoral visits exemplify God’s closeness to victims of injustices. He reaches out to those who are far away, brings them close to him, breaks social boundaries, and gives hope to the lowly people.
4. BEAUTY OF BEING PRESENT: Pope Francis thanked the youths for their presence. He was joyfully present to the young people. Pope often teaches about encounters. Moreover, he practices encounter. He teaches that encounter is slow and takes time. Pope practiced encounter as he dialogued and conversed with the 10,000 youths at the Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby. He was present and enjoyed the youth encounter.
5. POPE’S VULNERABILITY: Pope Francis embraced his vulnerability. While he promised to pray for the youths, he also asked the youths to pray for him as well. The Pope’s vulnerability had an impact on how the crowds of people embraced each other with respect and love. Edwina Kotoisuva (Fijian) who lives and works in Port Moresby had this to say: “I have attended many big events in PNG, but the Pope’s visit was different. People were not rushing and pushing one another, rather there was a sense of friendship, respect, and love in the masses of people moving into the stadium.”
6. YOUTH FRIENDLY POPE & CHURCH: Pope Francis enjoyed his encounter with the youths. He was informal and relaxed; he left his notes and spoke personally and directly to youths. He has young people close to his heart. The church and society should be youth friendly.
7. COUNTER ‘UGLY’ INDIFFERENCE – EGO-CENTRISM: Pope Francis put a very clear message and challenge to the sin of ‘ugly’ indifference. He explains that indifference is thinking only about yourself, self-centeredness, and ego-centeredness.
8. FALL AND GET UP – HELP THOSE WHO FALL: Pope Francis gave a clear message of hope to young people – we all make mistakes. But more important, we must get up and help others get up. He repeated this key message several times before waving goodbye to the young people
9. NATURAL RESOURCES ARE FOR THE COMMON GOOD: This is Pope Francis’ prophetic voice. Addressing political and business leaders, Pope Francis pointed to PNG’s cultural richness as well as the richness in natural resources – vast reserves of gold, copper, nickel, gas, and timber. He suggested that the tens of billions of dollars made from digging, dredging drilling, and mining the earth must benefit all peoples, especially the poor, and not only the few rich people. The Pope said, “These goods (natural resources) are destined by God for the entire community.”
10. THE OCEAN IS AT THE PERIPHERY BUT IS ALSO THE CENTER OF GOD’S HEART: Pope Francis gave a message of hope to Oceania Island peoples; he said, Oceania is far out in the ocean, distant from the rest of the world but at the center of God’s heart.