THE Archbishop of Canterbury and his
wife, Jane Williams, arrived in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua
New Guinea (PNG), on Saturday, for a five-day visit.
Lambeth Palace said that they received a "joyous welcome"
from the Archbishop of Papua New Guinea, the Most Revd Joseph
Kopapa, and from other Anglican leaders, and representatives of the
government.
The Governor General, Sir Michael
Ogio, "commended the work of the Church and its development of
local leadership, and expressed appreciation that the Archbishop's
visit would connect with the life of local communities", the
statement from Lambeth said.
The Acting Prime Minister of PNG
"expressed the government's commitment to work with the Church in
providing services to the community".
On Sunday, Dr Williams preached a sermon Popondetta Cathedral.
The visit also included the opening of
a refurbished Anglican hospital, and seeing Dogura, where the first
Anglican missionaries landed in 1891. On his final day there, on
Wednesday, Dr Williams was scheduled to meet members of the PNG
Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission.
Dr Williams was then to travel to New
Zealand to chair the 15th meeting of the Anglican Consultative
Council, which starts today.