Pope Francis, in resource-rich PNG, urges fair treatment for workers

Pope Francis and Papua New Guinea's Governor General Sir Bob Dadae meet with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps at APEC Haus, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, September 7, 2024. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

PORT MORESBY (Reuters) -Pope Francis on Saturday called for better treatment of workers in Papua New Guinea, a nation of some 600 islands in the Southwestern Pacific that has become a major target of international companies for its gas, gold and other reserves.

In a speech to political authorities in the country, which is home to hundreds of tribal groups and more than 800 spoken languages, the 87-year-old Catholic pontiff also made a heartfelt appeal for an end to a spate of ethnic violence that has killed dozens in recent months.