The Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands will host the Assembly of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conference of Oceania.
The event will be held in Port Moresby from April 11-17.
Discussions on climate change and the plight of refugees in the Oceania Region will be brought to the table.
Special invited guest is Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State from the Vatican, and the representative of the Pope for this assembly.
72 Catholic bishops from Australia, New Zealand, PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji and 14 other smaller countries of the Pacific are expected to attend this Assembly.
The Assembly will discuss practical resolutions of addressing the refugee issues on Manus Island, local migrants and the plight of West Papuans.
Climate change and deep seabed mining, youth, faith and vocations are also on the agenda.
“We have refugees on Manus and local migrants displaced due to natural hazards and the West Papuan dilemma,” said General Secretary of CBC PNG and Solomon Island, Fr Victor Roche.
Fr Victor added climate change is widespread in the Oceania region and experts will offer solutions and strategies appropriate for churches to action in the communities they work in.
The next FCBCO Assembly will take place in Fiji in 2022.
(Fr Victor Roche)