Argentinian missionaries overjoyed to meet Pope Francis in Vanimo

By Lisa Zengarini

After addressing the faithful of the diocese of Vanimo, Pope Francis made a brief visit on Sunday to the nearby hamlet of Baro to meet with a group of Argentine missionaries and nuns belonging to the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE).

Father Prado: “It was very kind of Pope Francis to come here”

The Pope had been invited by one of the IVE missionaries, Father Martin Prado, an old friend who has been working in Papua New Guinea for ten years. On the sidelines of the Pope’s visit to the diocese, Father Prado said the missionaries were delighted to meet him: “We are so happy, and we still can’t believe that he was here with us today: it’s a very beautiful thing. It was very generous of him to come here, he is a man with a big heart.”

Humanist School of the Parish of the Holy Trinity

The meeting took place at the local humanist school of the Holy Trinity parish, run by the missionaries and nuns (Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará) who have been present in this remote area of ​​northwestern Papua New Guinea since 1997.

The complex includes a primary and secondary school with about 500 students. The secondary school – the only one in the territory – was built and inaugurated this year with the financial support of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI).

The school, which aims to provide a holistic Catholic education, also offers music classes. It has established its own orchestra, the Queen of Paradise Orchestra, which is the first and only youth orchestra in Papua New Guinea.

The initiative is inspired by the world-renowned “Sistema” music education program, founded in 1975 by Venezuelan educator and musician José Antonio Abreu to introduce young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to music as a means of promoting human values.

A short concert performed by the Queen of Paradise Orchestra

Upon arrival at the parish, the Queen of Paradise Orchestra welcomed Pope Francis with a short concert. The choir performed a song accompanied by a dance called “Siyahamba” (an African song meaning “We walk in the light of the Lord”) and traditional Papuan drums, followed by a classical piece by the famous Austrian composer Johan Strauss Junior.

After his private conversation with the missionaries, Pope Francis left Baro for Vanimo airport to return to Port Moresby, where he will conclude his visit to Papua New Guinea on Monday with a meeting with young people.

Missionaries of the Diocese of Vanimo

The history of Catholic missionaries in the Diocese of Vanimo dates back to the early years of the 20th century. Over the years, their dedication has produced remarkable results. Between 1955 and 1993, the arrival of Passionist missionaries and lay missionaries allowed the establishment of missions in several regions.

The missionaries have placed great emphasis on education and health care in every mission station they have established. Their work faces many challenges. As of 2024, several parishes in the diocese still lack basic facilities such as electricity, mobile network coverage, and road access. Basic infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and transportation, is lacking, especially in the more remote inland parishes.