Pope Francis

Govt prepares for Pope's visit

Minister Tkatchenko said the visit by the Holy Father Pope Francis, which is scheduled for August 25th to 28th, will be coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and National Events.

He said Prime Minister James Marape has accepted the confirmation of the Papal visit and that line agencies have begun the process of hosting this important event of the year.

Meanwhile, Minister Tkatchenko announced that there will be a submission to the National Executive Council for National Events where all nine positions will be advised for a new structure.

Pope Francis names first African-American cardinal

The Pope announced the 13 cardinals from eight nations in a surprise address from his window overlooking St Peter's Square in Rome on Sunday.

Wilton Daniel Gregory, the progressive 72-year-old Archbishop of Washington DC, will be one of them.

The cardinals will be installed in a ceremony at the Vatican on 28 November.

Cardinals are the most senior clergymen in the Roman Catholic Church below the pontiff.

Their role includes electing the pope - the head of the Church - who is chosen from among them at a secret gathering known as a conclave.

Pope Francis: God still loves us all, even the worst of us

He was speaking to thousands of people during Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

"You may have mistaken ideas, you may have made a complete mess of things... but the Lord continues to love you," the Argentine pontiff said.

This will be interpreted by some as a reference to Church scandals, including sex abuse, our correspondent says.

Pope Francis will return to St Peter's Basilica later on Christmas Day to deliver the traditional papal message to the world.

Reach out to the ‘cast offs’

Look out for people whose human rights and dignity are violated every day, those caught up in networks of slavery and the loss of their freedom. 

Papua New Guinea has several of these, says the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG and Solomon Islands. 

“The present situation of the ‘Manus refugees’ has been hidden from view for the past six years, leading to social and moral problems and a number of human rights abuses. 

“This complacency should not continue. Communicating the issue through different media should bring about an effective social change.”

Pope Francis expresses solidarity

His Holiness sent his condolence after hearing of the recent earthquake in Southern Highlands Province.

“He prays especially for the eternal repose of the deceased and for the healing of those injured,” relays the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Pope Francis “offers encouragement to the civil authorities and emergency personnel as they assist the victims of this tragedy”.

Pope appoints new Vanimo Bishop

This follows the resignation of Cesare Bonivento, P.I.M.E, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Vanimo, for having reached the age limit.

Father Francis, born in July 21, 1962, is from Poi Island, West New Britain Province.

Pope Francis sorry for upsetting abuse victims

He said he realised his words hurt many, but repeated his belief that Chilean Bishop Juan Barros was innocent.

The pontiff was speaking to journalists on board a plane flying back to Rome.

Last week, he had said that victims who had accused Bishop Barros were committing slander.

The Pope was openly criticised by Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, who said he left victims of sexual abuse committed by priests feeling abandoned.

Pope-Trump meeting agenda: Climate change, terrorism

"Thank you. I won't forget what you said," Trump told Pope Francis, before leaving the Pope's private study after a half-hour private meeting.

Neither Trump nor the Pope revealed what their conversation entailed, but readouts from the White House and the Vatican highlighted terrorism, climate change and peace as agenda items covered.

Pope Francis angered by America's 'mother of all bombs' name

"I was ashamed when I heard the name," the pontiff told an audience of students at the Vatican.

"A mother gives life and this one gives death, and we call this device a mother. What is going on?" he asked.

Last month the US dropped such a bomb, which weighs 21,600lb (9,800kg), on Islamic State militants in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon said it was dropped from a US aircraft in Nangarhar province, targeting tunnel complex used by IS.

Pope Francis preaches tolerance at Mass in Cairo