Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has this afternoon announced the imminent arrival of several leaders of the Pacific who will be participating in the 4-day visit of Pope Francis in Port Moresby this weekend.

Prime Minister Marape said the Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni; the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Hon. Charlot Salwai; the President of Nauru, Hon. David Adeang; and the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa; as well as several representatives from countries of the Pacific will be in the country to join in the papal visit programme which begins on Friday evening and ends midday Monday after the Pontiff’s departure.

“We welcome our Pacific leaders to PNG as they join our people to participate in receiving His Holiness, Pope Francis; and I look forward to meeting with the three heads of governments in bilateral meetings later while they are here,” said PM Marape.