Pope Francis concerned about environment: Ribat

Archbishop of Port Moresby Cardinal Sir John Ribat says that Pope Francis is concerned about the environment and those who are suffering.
Cardinal Ribat was elevated as the first Papua New Guinean cardinal of the Catholic Church by Pope Francis on Nov 19, 2016.
Pope Francis’ “words are encouraging and are a challenge to me to move forward”, Cardinal Ribat said in a statement.
“Pope Francis sees the whole church. For Pope Francis, it is important that he brings everyone together. He does not want to see them concentrating on a portion of the church but on the whole church. Globally.”
The cardinal spoke on Pope Francis’ domestic and international apostolic visits and how he prioritised the “peripheries.”
“On the international and national level, the peripheries have been out there and we were always faithful with the church, though we were far way and perhaps didn’t hear very much.
“For Pope Francis to open that door and to allow that opening to come to us is a great opportunity for us to see that we too can contribute something to the life of the church.
“To focus on the peripheries shows that we are now accepted as the whole church, we are recognised and now we are brought to the centre.
“We are seen as an important part of the life of the church, we are part of the international community and that is a great thing.”
Cardinal Ribat also touched on a few issues affecting the country.
He highlighted issues such as climate change and how climate change was affecting Papua New Guinea.
He commented on sea-bed mining and on refugees, calling on our leaders to understand how those two issues would have long-term effects on the people.