East Sepik Governor Allan Bird expressed deep gratitude following Pope Francis' recent visit to Papua New Guinea. His message comes as the East Sepik province investigates and deals with its recent violence, and Enga Province recovers from ongoing tribal conflicts. Following the Pope’s departure, Governor Bird acknowledged the impact of the visit, and in a social media post wrote: "Thank you Pope Franciscus. You brought a ray of hope, a breath of fresh air to our country these past few days. The feeling was in the air. Our country is so wracked with pain, violence, corruption, and negativity." Pope Francis, during his visit, called for an end to tribal fighting and encouraged Papua New Guineans to unite in promoting peace, love, and unity. He emphasized the importance of cooperation to halt the ongoing violence plaguing the nation, referring to Papua New Guineans as a "smiling people" despite their many challenges. Bird praised the Pope’s humility and compassion, stating: "Your simplicity, your compassion, your humility, and your humanity were felt by everyone, and it was refreshing." Governor Bird also highlighted the Pope’s strong stand against violence: "While you serve the Most High God, your love for humanity, your message to the world for peace, your strong stand against violence is appreciated." On behalf of the people of East Sepik, especially the Catholic faithful, Bird conveyed gratitude for over 100 years of Catholic service in the region, adding, “May God bless you and grant you long life in your vocation. Maulu, Maulu.”