Vatican envoy being five-day visit in Hela

The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal arrived in Hela on Tuesday for a five-day visit to the province.
The Nuncio and his team were given a surprise welcome by Huli wigmen at Tari Airport.
People turned up in numbers at the airport as Catholic faithfuls, young and old, packed the airport to get a chance to see and meet Vayalunkal.
Catholic missionaries arrived in Southern Highlands and Hela in the 1930s.
One of the long time priest of Koroba Parish Fr Celestine said it was an honour to have the Papal’s representative, the Catholic Nuncio visiting Hela and bringing new hope to the church and the Christians in Mendi and Hela.
He said the Nuncio would be visiting several parish in Hela and would meet with parish the priest and communities to address issues affecting church and the people.
Meanwhile, the Catholic education secretary of Hela Pius Anton said the arrival of the Nuncio brings many blessing to the whole of Hela.
He said Hela was raged with tribal fights but with the visit of the papal‘s representative brings many blessing to the church and the communities.
He said there would be a closings mass at Kupari Catholic church, the headquarters of Catholic church in Hela on Sunday