Pope Francis: The pope of the peripheries

Pope Francis, who served as the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church from 2013 until his passing in 2025, will be remembered not only as a spiritual leader but as a prophet of the peripheries.

His papacy was defined by a profound commitment to reaching those on the margins of society—the poor, the excluded, the geographically remote, and those forgotten by the powerful. One of the most vivid illustrations of this commitment was his intended pastoral visit to Papua New Guinea—a journey that, although never fully realized due to declining health, symbolized his broader mission.

The Peripheries as the Heart of Francis’ Mission

From the beginning of his papacy, Francis emphasized the importance of the peripheries. In his first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, he wrote, “Each Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor.” This vision was rooted in his pastoral experience in Argentina, where he ministered among the urban poor and rural disenfranchised.

His consistent message was that the Church must go out—must move beyond comfort zones—and accompany those existential, economic, and geographical peripheries.

Throughout his papacy, Francis visited countries that previous popes had seldom considered—Albania, the Central African Republic, Myanmar, and Iraq. He met with Rohingya refugees, washed the feet of Muslim migrants, and dined with the homeless on his birthday. These actions were not mere gestures; they were bold theological statements that repositioned the center of the Catholic Church toward the edges of human suffering and neglect.

Papua New Guinea: A Symbolic Destination

Within this context, Francis’ planned visit to Papua New Guinea in 2024 represented a natural extension of his papal priorities. With its diverse tribal cultures, challenging terrain, and socio-economic hardships, Papua New Guinea is emblematic of the "periphery" Pope Francis often spoke of. It is a nation rich in faith, where Catholicism plays a vital role in healthcare, education, and community life—yet many still lack access to basic services.

The pope’s visit was scheduled to coincide with a regional synod for Oceania, a key initiative aligned with his vision of a synodal Church—one that listens, journeys together, and engages all its members, especially those far from traditional centers of power. He was also set to visit local parishes, mission hospitals, and tribal communities in the highlands.

In his messages to the bishops and faithful of Papua New Guinea, he consistently emphasized ecological stewardship, peace-building, and cultural respect. He praised the Church’s role in defending indigenous traditions and promoting harmony in a country with a complex history of tribal conflict. To the youth of Papua New Guinea, he said, "Be wantoks of love—love one another."

The Message in His Absence

Although Francis was unable to travel to Papua New Guinea due to illness, his words and intentions held immense symbolic weight. He appointed Cardinal Prevost as his special envoy and sent heartfelt video messages that were received with great joy and reverence. In them, he reaffirmed his spiritual closeness to the people and expressed gratitude for their enduring faith.

The local church responded with days of prayer and public celebrations of unity in his honor. Bishops in Enga, Simbu, and the Sepik region shared how the pope’s attention lifted the spirits of rural communities. In Wabag, preparations for his arrival had already sparked infrastructure improvements and a renewed sense of spiritual readiness.

Ironically, his absence only reinforced his message: the pope did not need to be physically present to be with the people. His focus on the peripheries had already reached them—through solidarity, prayer, and representation. His inability to travel underscored the reality of human limitation, and how faith and love can bridge even the greatest distances.

Theological and Ecclesial Significance

Pope Francis often spoke of a “Church that is poor and for the poor.” His desire to be in Papua New Guinea was an expression of this theology in action. He believed the vitality of the global Church does not only spring from Rome or Europe but is alive in the voices and practices of distant communities. Francis valued tribal wisdom from the Sepik and Enga highlands as much as Vatican discussions.

He also recognized the environmental and cultural richness of Oceania.  Papua New Guinea, home to one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems and linguistic heritages, was a key partner in advancing the message of Laudato Si’, his encyclical on ecological care. He urged the local church to be a prophetic voice against the exploitation of land and people.

His attention to the periphery was not only about geography. It represented a new center of gravity for the Catholic Church—one grounded in compassion, humility, and mutual listening. By preparing to visit a nation often overlooked, he reminded the world of the spiritual depth that exists beyond the headlines.

Lasting Impact on the Church in Papua New Guinea

Francis' planned visit, even without his physical presence, marked a pivotal moment for the Church in Papua New Guinea. It revitalized pastoral initiatives, encouraged inter-diocesan collaboration, and strengthened the faith of communities often isolated by terrain and infrastructure.

The Enga Catholic Professionals and Students Network launched spiritual formation workshops in anticipation of his arrival, and Catholic youth groups in Port Moresby and Lae organized pilgrimages of prayer and reflection. In remote villages like Wanepap, Kasap, Tsikiro, Yampu, and Par—where Catholic missions serve thousands—preparations for his visit inspired investments in clean water systems and catechist training.

Perhaps most significantly, his planned trip reminded local leaders, both religious and civil, of their responsibilities to their people. His voice amplified the concerns of those living in poverty, those displaced by tribal violence, and those whose traditions risk being lost to modernization.

A Papacy of Peripheral Power

The legacy of Francis as the “Pope of the Periphery” will endure long after his passing. His attention to nations like Papua New Guinea demonstrated a radical reimagining of leadership—not as a command from above, but as accompaniment from below. He constantly called the Church to be “a field hospital,” reaching out to the wounded rather than waiting for them to come.

Through his messages, his gestures, and his travels (or intention to travel), he offered a new blueprint for what it means to be the Vicar of Christ in a complex, fragmented world. For the people of Papua New Guinea, this meant being seen, valued, and included in the story of the universal Church.

Pope Francis showed that the true center of the Church lies in the hearts of the faithful, wherever they may be. Whether in a tribal hut in the highlands or a coastal chapel in East New Britain, Christ lives among the people. And the pope—even in absence—was with them.

Conclusion

Francis’ relationship with the peripheries was not merely political or pastoral; it was deeply theological. He believed Christ is most vividly encountered among the poor, the broken, and the far-flung. His intended journey to Papua New Guinea was a testament to this belief. And though he could not walk its soil, his spirit reached its people.

In honoring him as the pope of the periphery, we remember a leader who reshaped the Catholic imagination—who made it global, inclusive, and merciful. For Papua New Guinea and many nations on the margins, his legacy endures not just in what he did but in what he saw in them: the face of God.

Endakali Naima Goten Akali pitake auu kapae silyamo— Thank you for visiting Papua New Guinea.

Please proceed at your own pace, Papa Francisco.