Guest
After meeting with President Ted Wilson five months ago, Adventist Prime Minister James Marape last week praised Pope Francis, expressed a deep gratitude to the Pope, asserted that Francis is promoting the teachings of Jesus Christ, and even attended his “holy” Sunday Eucharistic Mass. According to official church sources, James Marape is a Seventh-day Adventist who is also the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG). [1] On Sunday, September 8, 2024, Pope Francis presided over a Mass at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, as part of his 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific region. More than 35,000 people attended the Sunday Eucharistic Mass celebrated by the Pope, including James Marape, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, who is a Seventh-day Adventist, and who was photographed sitting in the front row during the “papal holy mass.” [2] The Adventist Prime Minister showered Pope Francis with praise and expressed gratitude for his message of peace and unity, stating that it is precisely what our country needs. The Prime Minister expressed the following: • “We attended a mass gathering of youth at the Sir John Guise Stadium with the Pope in the yesterday morning and saw the Head of Vatican off at the airport at about 12pm,” said PM Marape.” [3] • “PM Marape highlighted: “The Pontiff’s core message of unity, tolerance, forgiveness, peace, love, care for one and other including lifting up our fallen brother or sister, and environmental stewardship is relevant, timely and very much needed today.” [3] • “The Pope’s message has resonated very well with our people and for our country, it was simple yet profound,” said PM Marape.” [3] • “Prime Minister Marape continued that he was grateful for the papal visit has come at the right time to remind the people of Papua New Guinea of basic societal values of living together as one people, as PNG heads into celebrating its 49 Independence anniversary.” [3] • “He said: ‘I want to express my greatest appreciation on behalf of the people of Papua New Guinea, especially the Catholic faithful, to Pope Francis for visiting our country’.” [3] • “I felt the Pope, with his global standing and spiritual leadership, would strengthen our people with his words of wisdom and help to prepare us for our 16 September Independence anniversary, said PM Marape.” [3] • “These are the same message I have been driving in my own conversations with our people, and as I farewell him, I want to echo it and thank him again for it,” said PM Marape.” [3] • “The Prime Minister said the theme of this year’s Independence anniversary will reflect the papal visit and message. It will center on Reconciliation, National Unity, and Respect of the Rule of Law.” [3] • “As the Pope leaves us and we head over the week into our 49th anniversary, our nation must ponder on the Pontiff’s message of unity, peace and love.” [3] • “He concluded that the Pontiff is heading to Timor Leste to continue his world tour of spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ of love and peace.” [3] Protestants do not praise the Pope for his “world tour” in spreading the teaching of Jesus Christ” because of serious theological differences between Protestantism and Roman Catholics. Protestants believe in the principle of Sola Scriptura, which holds that the Bible is the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice. Additionally, Protestants are supposed to reject the concept of the Papacy, which states that the Pope has spiritual and temporal authority over all people and must be obeyed. These and many other differences have led to a division and a great gulf between the two denominations that cannot be closed. But here we see the most influential Seventh-day Adventist in PNG leading our people to Rome’s so-called Holy Eucharistic Sunday Mass. President Ted Wilson, who just came from touring PNG, awarded Prime Minister James Marape with a silver pen so that he could underline his Bible. [4] It is Ted Wilson’s responsibility to correct this major public act of reaching across the gulf to embrace Rome. Will Ted Wilson publicly denounce this act of reverence to the man of sin? Will Prime Minister James Marape be canceled by him and the General Conference as well? Or will they play politics and only ban those who reprove sin and call our people to repentance? It is true that a prime minister serves as a representative of all citizens, including those of different religions. However, our members do not have to praise the Pope and tell everyone that Rome’s message is what the modern world needs today. Sources [1] [2] [3] [4]
