Oceania bishops unite in Port Moresby for synodal mission

From May 11 to 15, 2025, Port Moresby became a spiritual and ecclesial focal point for the Catholic Church in the Pacific as it hosted the executive meeting of the Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO).

The gathering brought together leading bishops from across the Pacific Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands to reflect, discern, and collaborate on the pastoral and prophetic mission of the Church within Oceania’s unique and often vulnerable context.

Held at the Catholic Bishops' Conference Secretariat in Gordons, the meeting served as a significant moment of synodal engagement and solidarity among the region’s episcopal leaders. 

This executive meeting is part of a broader cycle of collaboration, reflecting the global Catholic Church’s renewed commitment to synodality—walking together, listening deeply, and discerning collectively.

The FCBCO brings together four major regional episcopal conferences:

• The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC)

• The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC)

• The Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (CEPAC)

• The Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI)

Together, these conferences represent hundreds of islands and nations, each with distinct cultures, languages, and socio-political contexts—yet united by the Catholic faith, sacraments, and mission.

Bishop Anthony Randazzo of Broken Bay, Australia, and current FCBCO president, emphasized the federation’s role in fostering spiritual and missionary communion across the region during a Eucharistic celebration organized by the PNG Movement of Catholic Students—NCD Enga Tertiary Catholic Students.

“We are called to be a Church of islands in communion, rooted in the Gospel, and open to the cries of our people and the groaning of creation,” he said.

Attendees of the Executive Meeting:

• Bishop Anthony Randazzo, President, Bishop of Broken Bay (Australia)

• Archbishop Paul Martin SM, Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand)

• Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, Archbishop of Suva (Fiji)

• Bishop Justin Ain Soongie, Bishop of Wabag (Papua New Guinea)

• Bishop Peter Houhou, Bishop of Gizo (Solomon Islands)

• Bishop Michael Dooley, Bishop of Dunedin (New Zealand)

• Bishop Brian Mascord, Bishop of Wollongong (Australia)

• Fr. Chris De Souza, General Secretary, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

• Fr. Lawrence Arockiaraj, General Secretary, CBCPNGSI

• Mr. Cormac McCaughan, Private Secretary to Bishop Randazzo

Throughout the five-day gathering, the bishops engaged in spiritual discernment and strategic discussion, exploring how the Church can respond to regional challenges including climate change, migration, youth formation, and social inequality. 

As Oceania faces rapid shifts in environment and society, the bishops reaffirmed their commitment to walking together in hope and mission.

The FCBCO executive meeting in Port Moresby serves as a powerful witness to the vitality and unity of the Church in Oceania—an archipelago of cultures bound by shared faith, mutual care, and the vision of a synodal Church rooted in communion, participation, and mission.