Pictured: Retired Air Niugini pilot Captain Paun Nonggor-r greeting Pope John Paul II as he boards ANG’s A310 flight in1995.
As Papua New Guinea prepares to welcome one of the world religious leaders and head of the Catholic church, Pope Francis this week to Port Moresby and later onto Vanimo, we take you down memory lane to 1984 and also in 1995 when Air Niugini flew the former Pope during his visits.
In 1984, Air Niugini flew Pope John Paul II in one of its F28 aircraft from Mt Hagen to Honiara. The aircraft interior was modified to cater for the Pope and his delegation.
Eleven years later in 1995, Pope John Paul II visited PNG for the second time, this time Air Niugini flew him on its Airbus A310 from Port Moresby to Sydney. The flight was under the command of two proud Papua New Guinean pilots, Captain Lekwa Gure and Captain Paun Nonggor-r.
Pictured: Pope John Paul II on the stairs of ANG’s F28, waving to the people in Mt Hagen.
The current head of the Catholic church, Pope Francis arrives in Port Moresby on Friday 06th September and will spend three days in the country. He will later fly to Vanimo, Sandaun for a brief visit on the 08th before continuing to Dili, Timor-Leste.
Shalom Papua New Guinea – PNG (Source: Air Niugini)
Mytagii
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