Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - September 6, 2024 - Pope Francis has arrived in Papua New Guinea, becoming the second pope to visit the South Pacific nation.

The visit, which began in Indonesia, aimed to encourage the country's 8.9 million Catholics and boost interfaith ties with the world's largest Muslim population.

Francis signed a joint declaration pledging to work to end religiously inspired violence and protect the environment.

In Papua New Guinea, Francis' agenda aligns with social justice priorities, including meeting with the governor general, addressing government authorities and diplomats, and meeting with children cared for by charity services.

The country is home to over 10 million people, most of whom are subsistence farmers.

The visit is expected to help Pope Francis grow stronger in his Catholic faith.

Francis will also visit Vanimo to check in on Catholic missionaries from Argentina who are trying to spread the Catholic faith to a largely tribal people who also practice pagan and Indigenous traditions.

The visit is the second for Pope Francis, after St. John Paul II visited the country in 1984 and 1995. The Pope will also visit East Timor and Singapore before returning to the Vatican on September 13.