PNGSI Bishops Prioritize Youth and Synodality at 66th Annual Meeting

The 66th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI) was held from April 29 to May 9, 2025, at the Alexishafen Conference Centre in the Archdiocese of Madang.

The meeting gathered 4 archbishops, 16 bishops, and a diocesan administrator under the theme “Journeying in Communion with the Youth in Hope.”

The AGM opened with a Eucharistic celebration led by Bishop Pedro Baquero SDB of Kerema, Bishop Deputy for the Youth Commission, joined by CBCPNGSI President Bishop Otto Separy and Bishop Joseph Durero SVD. The liturgy, enriched by the Sisters of Saint Therese and the local faithful, set the spiritual tone for the days ahead.

In his homily, Bishop Baquero urged the Church to become a witness to life and a source of encouragement for the youth, who often face marginalization and blame. “Young people are not the problem—they are the promise,” he emphasized.

Over the 11-day gathering, bishops engaged in spiritual recollections, reviewed commission reports, and held in-depth discussions on pastoral priorities. Daily Masses, including one presided over by Archbishop Christopher Cardone, OP, of Honiara, framed each day’s agenda with prayerful reflection.

The fourth day saw presentations by committee chairpersons, who provided updates on various ministries and their challenges, offering a collaborative space for refining strategies to meet local pastoral needs.

A major highlight of the meeting was the renewed emphasis on empowering the youth. Bishops discussed plans to enhance faith formation, promote youth leadership, and provide meaningful engagement for young Catholics. The aim is to foster a generation of faith-filled, socially responsible leaders within the Church.

The bishops also reflected on the implementation of the Conference Pastoral Plan (CPP2) for 2022–2027, which emphasizes evangelization, social justice, and environmental care through the lens of synodality. Promoting communion, participation, and mission remains central to the Church’s vision in PNG and the Solomon Islands.

The AGM highlighted the increasing global presence of the Church in Oceania. Cardinal Sir John Ribat MSC is preparing to represent the region in the conclave to elect the new pope—an unprecedented moment for the Church in PNGSI. The conference welcomed Archbishop Maurizio Bravio, the newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio to PNG and the Solomon Islands.

As the AGM concluded, the bishops reaffirmed their unity and pastoral commitment, especially to the youth. The outcomes of this meeting are expected to guide the Church’s mission in the region for years to come.

The gathering served not only as a platform for decision-making but as a sign of hope, unity, and renewed pastoral vigor in the face of modern challenges.