Catholic Bishops' Conference urges prayers for Pope Francis, warns against false rumors

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBC PNGSI) is calling on all Catholics and people of goodwill to pray for Pope Francis’ health and to stop spreading false rumors about his passing, following unverified reports on February 24.

The conference clarified that no official diplomatic update has been received regarding the Holy Father’s condition and made this announcement during an urgent press conference at the CBC PNGSI headquarters in Gordons on February 24, 2025.

Speaking at the panel were Bishop Otto Separy, President of CBC PNGSI and Bishop of Bereina Diocese; Bishop Rozario Menezes, SMM, Vice President of CBC PNGSI and Bishop of Lae Diocese; and Fr. Lawrence Arockiaraj, General Secretary of CBC PNGSI.

Bishop Otto emphasized that all official news regarding the Pope’s health must come through a diplomatic announcement from the Holy See Press Office and urged people to verify information before sharing it on social media.

“The Catholic Bishops Conference is aware that the Holy Father is hospitalized. According to the latest update from the Holy See Press Office, his condition remains critical, but there is no new respiratory crisis. However, we are also aware of false reports circulating about his passing. Any official announcement will come through the Vatican’s diplomatic channels.”

Bishop Rozario Menezes, SMM, called the news of Pope Francis’ hospitalization a sad and difficult time for the Church and encouraged all Catholics to unite in prayer.

“The Holy Father visited us in September last year, and naturally, people are concerned about his health. At this moment, all Bishops are asking their faithful to pray for his good health.”

He also clarified that in the event of the Pope’s passing, the Vatican Embassy (Nunciature) in Papua New Guinea would be the first point of reference for official announcements.

“If there are any updates, they will come from the Vatican Press Office to the Nunciature, then to the Catholic Bishops Conference, and finally to the Government and Foreign Missions before being shared with the public.”

Bishop Rozario urged everyone to stop spreading misinformation and wait for verified updates.

Fr. Lawrence Arockiaraj, CBC General Secretary, reminded the public of the blessing of Pope Francis’ visit to Papua New Guinea in September 2024 and called for continued prayers.

“The Holy Father is still alive, and as Christians, we are called to pray for his health and recovery.”

The Catholic Bishops Conference appeals to all people of goodwill to join in prayer for Pope Francis, trusting in official channels for any future updates.