THE Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia, The Most Reverend Leonard Dawea, reached out to comfort Roman Catholics in the Solomon Islands following the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis on Easter Monday.
Addressing Archbishop Christopher Cardone of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Honiara, Archbishop Dawea expressed “deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy” on behalf of the Anglican Church, spanning Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and parts of New Caledonia.
“Pope Francis will be remembered as a humble servant leader of Christ, a voice for the poor and marginalized, and a courageous advocator for peace, mercy, and justice,” Archbishop Dawea wrote in his condolence message.
The letter emphasized the strong ecumenical ties between the Anglican and Catholic communities, particularly through their shared mission and worship in Solomon Islands.
“We are bound by our common baptism and mutual faith in Jesus Christ,” he said. “In these challenging times, Pope Francis’s call to ‘build bridges, not walls’ speaks louder than ever.”
Local parishioners have welcomed the message with warmth and gratitude. “It means a lot to see our Christian brothers standing with us,” said Maria Rore, a Catholic lay leader in Honiara. “It reminds us that the Church is truly one in spirit.” As the Solomon Islands mourns the passing of a global spiritual leader, the unity shown between these two churches has become a quiet yet powerful testament to shared faith and hope.
