Fr. Papa the first local to be anointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Mt Hagen Archdiocese
Dr Clement Papa is the first local Western Highlander to become the Archbishop of Mt Hagen Archdiocese after 90 years since the introduction of the Gospel by the late Fr William Rose from Alexishafen in Madang.
All predecessor Archbishops starting with George Bernarding, Michael Mier and now Douglas Young were all expatriates.
Dr. Papa is the youngest son of a devoted Catholic Missionary Pius Pii.
Tracing back to 1947, Pius Pii was among the first students of pioneer American missionary Fr William Ross, upon completion of his training at Rebiamul, Mount Hagen he was sent to Anglimp-South Waghi to establish the Kuli Parish.
Also Mr. Pii was among the first 28 Hagen people to be baptized by Fr Ross at Rabiamul in 1938.
It was well and proper that Fr. Clement, a son of a devout Catholic and scholarly family, followed the footsteps of his father to work for the church.
He served as a priest in Ambuluah and was the rector of the Good Shepherd Seminary at Fatima, near Banz, in North Waghi before undertaking postgraduate studies at Divinity University in Victoria, Australia.
During his ordination over 5,000 catholic faithfuls observed this momentous occasion and witnessed the accomplishment.
Meanwhile speaking at the Episcopal Ordination of Reverend Dr Clement Papa as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Mt Hagen Archdiocese at Rabiamul, Archbishop of the Mt Hagen Archdiocese Most Reverend Douglas William Young said being in leadership comes with challenges and greater responsibilities.
Archbishop Douglas said Jesus must become the ideal role model both for spirituality and leadership and all things will fall in place.
“Leadership comes with huge responsibility but this is God’s business and I believe He will help and I urge you to take Jesus as the Good Shepherd,” Fr. Young said.
The Episcopal Ordination on Friday last week was witnessed by thousands of Catholics from wide and far throughout PNG as well as Catholics Representatives from the Vatican and Australia where Dr Clement Papa did his Master's and Doctoral Degrees.
Coadjutor Archbishop Dr Clement Papa will assist and learn from Archbishop Douglas Young in the remaining months of this and the newly Ordained Archbishop is expected to take over as of January 23rd 2025 when Archbishop Douglas William Young would retire on his birthday.