'Pope Francis' love for the people of PNG will cement them in faith'

An Australian couple present at Pope Francis' Mass in Port Moresby tell Vatican News how the Holy Father has a love for the people of Papua New Guinea and that his presence will cement the faith in the nation's faithful who are moved that he has traveled this far to be with them.

By Linda Bordoni and Deborah Castellano Lubov

"The Papua New Guineans are people of faith and belief, and to see that the Pope himself has come out here, out of love for them, and celebrates this Eucharist and other celebrations with them, is something that will really cement their faith and really be a sign of the living Holy Spirit."

This was expressed by Amanda and John, an Australian couple who were present at the Holy Father's Mass in Port Moresby on Sunday during his Apostolic Journey to Asia and Oceania. "We are very excited to come and see him," they said.

“The Papua New Guineans are people of faith and belief, and to see that the Pope himself has come out here, out of love for them, and celebrates this Eucharist and other celebrations with them, is something that will really cement their faith.”

Speaking to Vatican News' Linda Bordoni, the spouses explained they belong to the Neocatechumenal Community, and that, while they are from Melbourne, they were on mission in Alotau Milne Bay from 2014 to 2017.

Important moment for PNG faithful

"Our mission," they said, was "essentially, to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ. We have five children. We have one in heaven, and we were just called to live and be a sign of Christ amongst the people."

Listen to the interview:

They expressed their delight that Pope Francis is able to be among the nation's faithful.

"We are dealing with," they noted, "a country that would find it very difficult, maybe impossible, to ever visit the Pope in Rome."

"Therefore," they said, "this a really important moment for the Papua New Guineans to be here, and to see that he has a great love for the people, that led him to come here and spend time with them."

“This a really important moment for the Papua New Guineans to be here, and see that he has a great love for the people, that led him to come and spend time with them”