Condolence Message on the passing of Late Archbishop Emeritus Karl Hesse
The passing of the Late Archbishop Emeritus Karl Hesse draws to a close the generation of great religious leaders of the 1900’s in Papua New Guinea. Karl Hesse was part of a generation of religious leaders who taught greater tolerance of different Christian faiths, spiritual vocation and peace.
As Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Rabaul the Late Karl Hesse was an important figure in the Bougainville Peace Process. He provided leadership to the Catholic faithful and clergy on Bougainville during the tumultuous years of the Bougainville Civil War. He was amongst a host of religious leaders in the likes of the Late Archbishop of Port Moresby Sir Peter Kurongku, the Late United Church Bishop of Bougainville Rev. Salagil Zale, Late Bishop Lesley Boseto from the Solomon Islands and the Late Diocese of Bougainville Bishop Gregory Singkai who all advocated peace on Bougainville.
It is worthy to note that the Roman Catholic Church and it’s clergy played a key role in the Bougainville Peace process along with the United Church, the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the other smaller denominations throughput Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. The churches kept our health and education services going and preached the message of God’s love and forgiveness to our people.
On behalf of the government and people of Bougainville, I offer our sincerest condolences to the clergy and Catholic faithful in the New Guinea Islands and PNG on the untimely loss of the Late Archbishop Emeritus Karl Hesse. I pay tribute to this great man and the countless other Christian man and women whose vocation is to serve the Almighty by catering to the spiritual needs of each and everyone one of us.
May His Soul Rest In Peace.
Hon. Ishmael Toroama, MHR
President
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