ULMWP Calls for Daily Divine Mercy Prayer for the Healing of Papua

ULMWP Calls for Daily Divine Mercy Prayer for the Healing of Papua

Jayapura, March 6, 2026

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has invited Papuans around the world to unite in daily prayer, entrusting the suffering and future of the Papuan people to God’s mercy.

In a statement issued in Jayapura, ULMWP Executive President Menase Tabuni and Executive Secretary Markus Haluk called on Papuans—both in the homeland and in the diaspora—to pray the Divine Mercy Prayer each day at 3:00 PM, traditionally known in the Catholic Church as the Hour of Divine Mercy.

The leaders said the initiative seeks to place the long struggle and suffering of the Papuan people into the hands of God, recognizing that true healing and lasting peace ultimately flow from divine grace.

A Spiritual Response to a Time of Crisis

The statement comes at a time of global uncertainty marked by armed conflicts and humanitarian crises in several parts of the world. In this context, ULMWP urged the international community not to overlook the ongoing crisis in Papua.

For more than six decades, the Papuan people have endured conflict, displacement, and social upheaval. The leaders emphasized that this long journey calls for a renewed spiritual foundation rooted in humility, repentance, and trust in God.

Recognizing God as the Source of the Struggle

Reflecting on 62 years of struggle, the leaders acknowledged that the Papuan movement has taken many forms, including diplomacy, peaceful advocacy, and political organization. At the same time, they encouraged a deeper spiritual reflection among Papuans themselves.

They stressed that the struggle for justice must be entrusted to God, who is recognized as the true source and guide of the journey toward freedom and reconciliation.

Daily prayer at the Hour of Divine Mercy is therefore presented as an act of faith, expressing confidence that God’s mercy can restore what conflict and division have wounded.

Healing Wounds and Restoring Relationships

According to the statement, the spirituality of Divine Mercy offers a path toward healing the deep wounds created by decades of conflict.

Prayer, the leaders said, can help communities seek forgiveness, overcome resentment, and rebuild relationships damaged by violence and mistrust. It also invites believers to rediscover their responsibility to care for creation and respect the land of Papua as a sacred gift of God.

In this vision, prayer is not an escape from reality but a source of strength for concrete action—encouraging believers to accompany victims, defend human dignity, and work patiently for justice and peace.

A Call to Prayer for the Future of the Nation

The ULMWP concluded its message by inviting all Papuans to join in a common spiritual commitment wherever they may be.

Through daily prayer at the Hour of Divine Mercy, the faithful are encouraged to entrust the suffering of the Papuan people, their hope for healing, and their future to the mercy of Christ.

The call is issued under the movement’s guiding affirmation:

“One People, One Soul.”

“Jesus, we trust in You.”