What's happened
During his visit to Papua New Guinea, Pope Francis called for an end to tribal violence and urged sustainable development of the nation's natural resources. His remarks come amid rising sea levels and environmental degradation affecting local communities. The pope's presence highlights the urgent need for global action on climate change.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Pope Francis's visit highlights the dire environmental situation in Papua New Guinea, where rising sea levels threaten communities. The article notes that locals hope for the pope's advocacy to spur global action on climate change. In contrast, the South China Morning Post emphasizes the pope's call to end tribal violence, stating that it has displaced around 100,000 people. The Independent adds that the pope's remarks on sustainable resource management reflect a long-standing concern about the exploitation of Papua New Guinea's natural wealth, which often benefits foreign companies over local populations. Together, these sources illustrate the multifaceted challenges facing the nation and the potential for the pope's visit to catalyze change.
How we got here
Pope Francis's visit to Papua New Guinea is part of an 11-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. The country faces significant challenges, including rising sea levels, environmental degradation from resource extraction, and ongoing tribal violence that has displaced tens of thousands.
More on these topics
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Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a sovereign state in Oceania that occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of A
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Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory