PORT MORESBY – Pope Francis has urged national authorities in Papua New Guinea to promote responsible and equitable development, and to bring the violence gripping much of the country to an end. He and the Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Robert Dadae, also made an appeal for the respect and protection of women and their rights in the country, where nearly 70 percent of women experience domestic violence and around 50 percent have been raped.
Speaking to civil authorities and diplomats on 6 September, Pope Francis pointed to the vast cultural diversity of Papua New Guinea, noting that there are over 800 different ethnic groups and languages, as well as its many natural resources. “These goods are destined by God for the entire community,” he said.
