Pope Francis Fabio Fazio announced it on TV and now it's official: next August he will travel to Papua New Guinea, practically to the other side of the planet. At 87, he is ready for the longest journey of the pontificate: over 30 hours of flight and a nine-hour time zone. According to La Croix, the ten-day program will also include East Timor and Indonesia.
INSIGHTS
Unusual African heat, Copernicus alarms about hottest September in history and Pope insists: 'It's man's fault'
New Guinea has been in his plans for some time.
He wants to visit this region of the world because it is considered the most obvious frontier of climate change and many small islands are already submerged by rising waters. Warming causes the polar ice to melt. The Carteret Islands, for example, a few years ago became the first place in the world where all residents were forced to migrate in one block: the first climate refugees – by UN definition – forced to move amid the growing threat of swallowed water to homes and crops bring it into shape. The government of Papua announced the papal trip. In recent days, Prime Minister James Marape received an official note from the Vatican confirming the projects previously developed. The last pope to visit this area was John Paul II in 1995.
Climate, supported by Pope Francis at COP28 with the green exhortation Laudate Deum, deniers are retreating
The Pope of Laudato Si was happily awaited in the capital Port Moresby, where he will arrive by plane. Who knows if he has taken CO2 emissions into account, since the plane is the mode of transport that produces the most greenhouse gases: in 32 hours of flight it produces emissions equivalent to those produced by a person in a whole year.
Global warming, 2023 the hottest year ever
The visit had been planned for years but was canceled due to the pandemic. There Pope Francis will meet Cardinal John Ribat, the 67-year-old Archbishop of Port Moresby, who comes from New Britain. In his home village, French missionaries founded the first church in Papua New Guinea. He is known for his commitment to the environment and to the defense of flooded Pacific island nations. Some time ago he said in an interview that the celibate life was a challenge for him. “For me, the thought of having a wife will always be there in life and will be a challenge that I will have to face until I die.” And I talk about it with priests, and I also work with seminarians, and talk about it I. How do we view this gift that God has given us? How can we imagine giving life to others and building the community and unity we want to see?”
Climate change, WHO alert: The crazy climate affects the head, heart, vision and the neurological system
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED