When Catholic bishops from around the Pacific meet in Port Moresby next month human rights and environmental care and protection will underlie discussions.
Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin will be at the meeting. Photo: AFP or licensors
The Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania involves 19 Pacific states and territories, including Australia and New Zealand.
Talks are expected to focus on displacement, social unrest, climate change and looking at harmful environmental practices such as deep-sea mining and overfishing.
A New Zealand bishop, Charles Drennan, said the conference is also very mindful of ongoing unrest and a questionable military presence in West Papua.
He said there are also concerns at the growing influence of "unsavoury business and political interests buying influence in the Pacific".
The Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will be one of the speakers.
