Pope Francis has called today for better treatment of workers in Papua New Guinea – a country of about 600 islands in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, which has become an important target of international companies because of its deposits of gas, gold and other resources, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
In a speech to the political authorities in the country, where hundreds of tribes live and more than 800 languages are spoken, the 87-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church also called for an end to the wave of ethnic violence that has claimed dozens of lives in recent months.< /p>
The Pope said that the natural resources of Papua New Guinea are given by God for the whole community.
„Even if outside experts and large international companies have to participate in the use of these resources, it is right to give due consideration to the needs of the local population in the distribution of income and the use of workers to improve their living conditions&ldquo ; said Pope Francis. He added that natural resources must be used in a sustainable way that improves the well-being of all, without exception, through international cooperation, mutual respect and agreements that benefit all countries.
Arriving for his speech at the conference center "APEC House" (APEC Haus), built for the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, the Pope was welcomed with a dance by a group of Papua New Guineans dressed in traditional feathered costumes and beaded skirts.
Papua New Guinea is home to some of the largest known gold deposits, and the country is also an important exporter of natural gas and oil. The government, led by Prime Minister James Marape since 2019, has sought to increase the benefits to local communities from projects carried out by international conglomerates such as “Exxon Mobil” (Exxon Mobil Corp) and “Newcrest Mining” (Newcrest Mining), notes Reuters.
Economic data showed in May that growth in the country was modest - 2.7 percent last year. The World Bank said Papua New Guinea is suffering from a “human capital crisis”, with almost half of children showing stunted growth.
Papua New Guinea is home to hundreds of tribes, which has been a source of ethnic tension for years. Attacks in three villages in July killed at least 26 people, according to the United Nations.
Pope Francis said he had particular hope that tribal violence would stop. He said he was appealing “to everyone's sense of responsibility to stop the spiral of violence and start down the path that leads to fruitful cooperation”.
He called for a “final solution” on the issue of the status of the island of Bougainville - the largest island in the Solomon Islands archipelago. Bougainville is currently an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea, but in 2019 the island voted overwhelmingly for independence. However, the prolonged political impasse in Papua New Guinea's parliament has delayed the process of ratifying the result of the vote.
Papua New Guinea is a country of vast mountains, jungles and rivers. The population is estimated at between 9 and 17 million people. According to Vatican estimates, about 2.5 million Catholics live in the country.
Pope Francis arrived in Papua New Guinea on Friday evening and will stay until Monday. He previously visited Indonesia and is due to head to East Timor and Singapore before returning to Rome on September 13. This is his longest trip abroad to date, notes Reuters.