At Christmas, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands turns its thoughts to those who lost everything in the riots, to asylum seekers “stuck” for years by Australia on the island of Manus who will become the responsibility of Papua New Guinea on 1 January.
On 19-21 November, economists and entrepreneurs under 35 from around the world will meet online. More than 40 countries will be connected, with live streaming from Assisi. Some 2,000 people have registered with at least 12 link-ups to 115 countries, four hours a day plus a 24-hour marathon on the second day, and contributions from more than 20 countries.
The meeting with the president of the German Bishops Conference, in all likelihood touched upon the assembly with "deliberative power" convoked by the Germans to address issues such as the separation of power in the Church, priestly life, women's access to ministry and to offices in the Church and sexual morality.
The agreement involved some 10 island nations in the region. However, the parties agreed to work together in five areas, but not security. For the members of the Pacific Islands Forum, the priority is the fight against climate change and post-COVID recovery, not big power geopolitical confrontation. Beijing poorly prepared its diplomatic initiative.
Canberra's U-turn with the defeat of conservative Scott Morrison and Labor's return to government is being watched closely outside the country as well. Newly appointed Foreign Minister Penny Wong - an ethnic Han Chinese originally from Malaysia - to oversee the crux of relations with Beijing.
The small Pacific archipelago, so called because it was thought to be home to King Solomon's mines, actually lacks everything: hospitals, infrastructure, airports. China, which has offered to bring a certain degree of development, is welcomed as a liberator. But taking sides is not the solution, comments Monsignor Luciano Capelli to AsiaNews.
