Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia Mgr Leopoldo Girelli is scheduled to visit Lake Sentani Festival arena at Kalkote resort in Jayapura Regency on Sunday, June 13, 2010. Jayapura episcopal spokesman Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar said here on Thursday that the Vatican Nuncios Apostolic Mgr Leopoldo Girelli would visit the land of Papua next week.

"The Vatican envoy will come to Papua as part of his pastoral mission, but he will also take his time to visit the Lake Sentani Festival arena to obtain first hand information about preparations for such an annual cultural event," Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar said.

He added that the Vatican envoy was profoundly interested in the Lake Sentani Festival, themed "Loving Culture for Our Future," because for him, whoever loves and preserves traditional and cultural values, the same has prepared an expected future for the next generation.

The bishop said that in principle, the Catholic Church in Papua respected the local culture and tradition as an integral part of the life of local people.

Meanwhile, Jayapura district head Habel Melkias Suwae said he had been informed by Bishor Leo Laba Ladjar that the Vatican envoy during during his pastoral mission in Papua would visit Lake Sentani Festival arena.

"As the host, the Jayapura provincial administration and the people will sincerely receive the visit to Papua by the Vatican ambassador to Indonesia," Habel Melkias said.

According to him, the people in Papua are made up of different ethnicities and religions but they can coexist in perfect harmony with one commitment to preserving the values of local tradition and culture.

He said Lake Sentani Festival would be a momentum to strengthen the local tradition and culture and to introduce it to international community. (ANTARANEWS)