Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has called on churches to become the catalyst to re-ignite unity and anchor it among the ethno- linguistically diverse people of Papua New Guinea.

The Prime Minister made the appeal as he announced that Government would be heavily engaging churches in activities of the 50th Independence anniversary next year, 2025.

The Prime Minister was speaking to pastors and church workers from churches in the country who met with him during a Christmas lunch- eon in Port Moresby on Tuesday, 24 December 2025.

PM Marape used the opportunity to remind the spiritual leaders the need to embed people into a culture of love that is anchored in God, the Creator.

“If we do not secure our people with the love that we preach about at the foundational level – true love for each other that is anchored in the love for Christ – then our efforts are in vain.

“True love transcends beyond the family, beyond our tribe and goes outward toward everyone. It is anchored in the love for the Creator. True love unites and bonds. For a nation as diverse as ours, we need this kind of love, this unity.

“In our country of so much diversity, no other philosophy, no other dogma, or teaching that is devoid of Christ can hold our country together. Real authentic Christian teaching has all ingredients of unity in it.

“The Church has a great role to play to help people see the bigger meaning of life, to recognise their place in life, in their communities and country,” said PM Marape, adding that this was especially important at this time when the country was facing many social challenges.

He demonstrated the impact of church in his own life at a very personal level where Bougainvillean missionaries brought up his father, married him off to his mother, leading to his own birth.

Prime Minister Marape also acknowledged the great supporting role churches have played in delivering education and health in the colonial era and post-Independence leading to the current times.

“Church has preceded government in most parts; we cannot ignore the role churches play, and we have to give churches their rightful place as we step into our 50th anniversary.

“Next year, churches will be involved heavily in our activities for the 50th anniversary,” he said.

Prime Minister Marape also called on churches to assist in delivering the message as given in Leviticus 25 which is in returning to the land as the country heads into the 50-year anniversary.

Pastors and church workers from the PNG Council of Churches and the PNG Body of Christ met with the Prime Minister over the lunch at APEC House before the Prime Minister Marape’s departure to join the people of Bougainville for the 100-year celebration of Seventh Day Adventist mission in Bougainville. He departs on 26 December 2024.