# "Faith That Is Forced Is No Longer Faith": PNG PM's Bold UN Message on Religion at UNGA **URL:** \ **Category:** News and Updates\ **Created:** [September 27, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://justice.compclassnotes.com/t/faith-that-is-forced-is-no-longer-faith-png-pms-bold-un-message-on-religion-at-unga/876 "2026-09-27T12:52:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FreeFormer](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/justice.compclassnotes.com/freeformer/32/10_2.png) [@FreeFormer](https://justice.compclassnotes.com/u/FreeFormer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://justice.compclassnotes.com/t/faith-that-is-forced-is-no-longer-faith-png-pms-bold-un-message-on-religion-at-unga/876/1 "2026-09-27T12:52:54Z")
**Sep 25, 2026** Papua New Guinea’s PM James Marape delivered a passionate UN appeal for freedom of conscience, declaring “faith that is forced is no longer faith” and urging every nation — Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist — to protect religious minorities, while warning that “no nation is so powerful that it can live apart from the earth.” For more details, watch our story and subscribe to our channel, DRM News. “Faith That Is Forced Is No Longer Faith”: PNG PM’s Bold UN Message on Religion PNG PM to Christian Nations: “You Don’t Promote Peace, You’re Not Sons of God” “No Nation Is So Powerful It Can Live Apart From Earth”: Marape’s UN Warning James Marape Defends Religious Minorities Worldwide in Passionate UN Speech! [![](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/justice_node/original/2X/c/c667cb41ec230d149ca45bccd1965bf7a5d1104c.jpeg ""Faith That Is Forced Is No Longer Faith": PNG PM's Bold UN Message on Religion at UNGA | AC1G") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVS6x8A5WvY) ---
**Author:** ![FreeFormer](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/justice.compclassnotes.com/freeformer/32/10_2.png) [@FreeFormer](https://justice.compclassnotes.com/u/FreeFormer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 12:54pm UTC](https://justice.compclassnotes.com/t/faith-that-is-forced-is-no-longer-faith-png-pms-bold-un-message-on-religion-at-unga/876/2 "2026-09-27T12:54:01Z")
# Transcript 0:00 0 seconds I wish to thank the prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 0:15 15 seconds The assembly will now hear an address by his excellency James Marappe, Prime 0:22 22 seconds Minister of the Independence State of Papu Nugina. I request protocol to 0:28 28 seconds escort his excellency and invite him to address the assembly. 0:45 45 seconds Mr. President, Secretary General, excellencies, distinguished delegates, I bring to you 0:53 53 seconds greetings from Papa Nigini, a nation of extraordinary diversity with more than 800 languages and cultures, but united 1:03 1 minute, 3 seconds under one flag. Mr. President Papini comes to this assembly with profound respect 1:11 1 minute, 11 seconds for the charter of the United Nations and for the principles and purposes upon which this great institution was 1:20 1 minute, 20 seconds founded. The United Nations reminds us that whether we are big or small nations, 1:26 1 minute, 26 seconds rich or poor nations, developed or developing, powerful or less powerful, we are all members of one international community. 1:38 1 minute, 38 seconds The challenges confronting humanity do not recognize the size of our economies, the strength of our militaries, or the 1:48 1 minute, 48 seconds boundaries on our map. No nation can address them alone. We must therefore continue to work together respecting the 1:56 1 minute, 56 seconds sovereignty of all nations, upholding the international law and the United Nations charter, resolving our 2:04 2 minutes, 4 seconds differences peacefully, and recognizing that every nation, regardless of its size or economic strength or military 2:11 2 minutes, 11 seconds might, has a voice and a place in this assembly. 2:16 2 minutes, 16 seconds for Papa Nigini and all the nations of the Pacific multilateralism methods. The 2:23 2 minutes, 23 seconds United Nations place provides a place rather where small nations can sit alongside the largest, where a voice can 2:32 2 minutes, 32 seconds be heard and where we can work together on the common challenges facing humanity. And with this I want to place 2:39 2 minutes, 39 seconds on record Papa Nigin’s fullest acknowledgement on all speakers from the Pacific who have spoken all leaders who 2:46 2 minutes, 46 seconds spoke. We I fully on behalf of Papa Nigini affirm all their points the points that was raised. I also wish to 2:55 2 minutes, 55 seconds acknowledge the secretary general of United Nations, his excellency Antonio Guutares as he approaches the 3:03 3 minutes, 3 seconds completion of his tenure. On behalf of the government and people of Papu Nigini, I want to thank the secretary 3:10 3 minutes, 10 seconds general for his strong and consistent advocacy for humanity. At a time when our world has confronted war, 3:18 3 minutes, 18 seconds displacement, poverty, inequality, climate change and many other challenges, he has consistently called 3:26 3 minutes, 26 seconds for peace, human dignity, international cooperation and respect for the principles of United Nations. He has 3:34 3 minutes, 34 seconds demonstrated the qualities of a global statement. If there is anyone befitting of a noble peace award and label a 3:42 3 minutes, 42 seconds global statement, uh his excellency gutterus is perhaps the leading person at this at his time. He has used his 3:51 3 minutes, 51 seconds office to speak for humanity, including those voices that are often too dim and 3:58 3 minutes, 58 seconds seemingly unheard. Secretary General Gutterus, on behalf of my 11 million people, Papa 4:05 4 minutes, 5 seconds Nigini, thank you for your service to the United Nations and to humanity. We remember fondly your three nights you 4:14 4 minutes, 14 seconds stayed with us in the mountains and islands of Papa Nigini. Thank you for being a strong voice of not just Papa Nigini but small nations, especially my 4:23 4 minutes, 23 seconds small Pacific island nations. Your advocacy reminds us that beyond our national borders and political differences, cultures and beliefs, we 4:33 4 minutes, 33 seconds belong to one human family and we serve one planet called the planet earth. Mr. 4:39 4 minutes, 39 seconds President, it is in the spirit of common humanity that I wish to speak about human rights, human freedoms and 4:47 4 minutes, 47 seconds particularly freedom of conscience, thought, belief and religion. At the heart of human rights is a simple truth. 4:57 4 minutes, 57 seconds Every human being has inherent dignity and is entitled to fundamental freedoms. 5:03 5 minutes, 3 seconds From a Christian perspective, these freedoms are not gifts bestowed upon humanity by governments or institutions 5:10 5 minutes, 10 seconds or powerful nations. They are God-given rights inherent in every human life. And 5:18 5 minutes, 18 seconds because this right belongs equally to every person, we have a responsibility to respect and protect the rights of 5:24 5 minutes, 24 seconds others, including those who may not look like us or speak like us or worship like 5:31 5 minutes, 31 seconds us or believe what we believe. The strength of a nation, a government or an 5:38 5 minutes, 38 seconds economy or a technology or a religion should never be used to suppress the fundamental human rights of another human being. 5:47 5 minutes, 47 seconds The might of military power must not suppress the weak. The might of economic power must not suppress the poor. The 5:55 5 minutes, 55 seconds might of technology must not be used to diminish human dignity or freedom. And 6:02 6 minutes, 2 seconds the might of a religious majority must never be used to suppress those who belong to religious minority. Human 6:10 6 minutes, 10 seconds rights have the greatest meaning when they protect those with less power. 6:15 6 minutes, 15 seconds minorities, the vulnerables, the vulnerable communities and individuals whose beliefs may differ from those of 6:22 6 minutes, 22 seconds the majority. We must therefore learn to live together with mutual respect. We do not have to agree on everything. We do 6:30 6 minutes, 30 seconds not have to say the same religion, same culture, same political system or worldview, but we must respect humanity 6:38 6 minutes, 38 seconds and the fundamental freedoms of one another. 6:42 6 minutes, 42 seconds Mr. President, this principle is especially important when we speak about religion. 6:48 6 minutes, 48 seconds Papa Nugini, for instance, is a Christian nation believing that Jesus Christ is our Lord, Savior, and soon cominging King. Christian principles 6:56 6 minutes, 56 seconds profoundly have influenced our country, our communities, and our institutions. 7:01 7 minutes, 1 second But let me make one point clear. Our Christianity must and will never be an excuse to deny another human being the 7:08 7 minutes, 8 seconds freedom of conscience. And we have embedded this the fathers of my constitution the fathers of my country’s 7:14 7 minutes, 14 seconds constitution in 1975 in fact uh right from the foundation of our conitution section 45 of our 7:23 7 minutes, 23 seconds constitution guarantees every person freedom of conscience thought and religion and that practice or he that 7:32 7 minutes, 32 seconds person can practice his or her beliefs and religion according to his own conscience or her own conscience. Our constitution also protects people 7:40 7 minutes, 40 seconds against being compelled to parti participate in religious observance and against attempts to force religion or irreligion upon another person. Mr. 7:51 7 minutes, 51 seconds President, faith that is forced is no longer fate. I believe freedom is a 7:57 7 minutes, 57 seconds choice, a God-given right implanted in the conscience of every human beings. 8:04 8 minutes, 4 seconds Our moral conscience comes from God. God does not compel worship. He calls worship through love allowing every 8:11 8 minutes, 11 seconds person to exercise the freedom of choice he has given them. True faith therefore cannot be imposed by force, fear, law or 8:21 8 minutes, 21 seconds persecution. A person must be free to believe. A person must be free to worship. A person must be free to change 8:28 8 minutes, 28 seconds his or her belief. A person must be also free not to profess religion if he or her chooses. So the universal 8:37 8 minutes, 37 seconds declaration of human right recognizes this principle in article 18, the right to freedom of thought, conscience and 8:43 8 minutes, 43 seconds religion. Mr. President, history teaches us what happens when government or institution or majority use religion to suppress those who believe differently. 8:55 8 minutes, 55 seconds Human beings have been persecuted, expelled, imprisoned, killed because of the fate. Humanity must learn from this 9:03 9 minutes, 3 seconds history. A Christian majority nation must protect people of other religion. A Muslim majority nation must protect 9:11 9 minutes, 11 seconds people of other religion. A Hindu majority nation must protect people of other religions. A Buddhist majority 9:19 9 minutes, 19 seconds nation must protect people of other religions. And every society must respect the rights of those who choose 9:25 9 minutes, 25 seconds not to profess a religion. The size of a majority does not diminish the rights of 9:32 9 minutes, 32 seconds a minority. The United States for instance, this country where we where we stand on where the assembly meets expressed a principle more than two 9:41 9 minutes, 41 seconds centuries ago to its first amendment which prohibits laws respecting the an establishment of religion or prohibiting 9:50 9 minutes, 50 seconds the free exercise thereof. Government should neither impose faith upon its people nor prevent people from practicing their faith. 9:59 9 minutes, 59 seconds Papa New Guinea supports this principle. 10:01 10 minutes, 1 second We are proudly Christian but the strength of our Christianity should not be demonstrated by suppressing other person’s beliefs. It should be 10:10 10 minutes, 10 seconds demonstrated by having confidence in every human to allow their own exercise of 10:17 10 minutes, 17 seconds free choice or free conscience. Humanity can can be diverse in culture, religion and thought just like Papuin is. Yet we 10:25 10 minutes, 25 seconds must be united in respecting and tolerating differences we all have. Mr. President Papa New Guinea knows something about 10:33 10 minutes, 33 seconds diversity. We have more than 800 languages and many different cultures and tradition. Yet for 51 years as an 10:42 10 minutes, 42 seconds independent nation, we have remained together as one papu nigini. We have disagreements and challenges. We do not 10:49 10 minutes, 49 seconds claim perfection. But our own experience demonstrates something important. 10:54 10 minutes, 54 seconds Diversity does not mean division. People can speak different languages and still belong to one nation. People can come 11:02 11 minutes, 2 seconds from different cultures and live but still live under one constitution. And people can worship different differently 11:09 11 minutes, 9 seconds and still be neighbors, colleagues, and fellow citizens. Mr. President, Papa Nigini therefore calls upon all member 11:16 11 minutes, 16 seconds states to defend freedom of conscience, thought, religion, and belief. I respectfully extend this call to every 11:23 11 minutes, 23 seconds nation that calls Papa Nigini a friend, every nation which we have bilateral partnership and every nation that seeks 11:30 11 minutes, 30 seconds friendship and engagement with us. Look within your borders. Ensure that religious minorities are not persecuted, 11:38 11 minutes, 38 seconds suppressed, intimidated or discriminated because they practice a religion that is different from majority. Whether a 11:45 11 minutes, 45 seconds country is predominantly Christian or Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist or follows other religion religious tradition 11:52 11 minutes, 52 seconds doesn’t matter the faith of the majority must never become an instrument for the persecution of minority. This message is 12:00 12 minutes not directed at one country or one religion or one region. It is a principle that must apply equally to all 12:07 12 minutes, 7 seconds of us because human rights cannot be selected. We cannot demand respect for our own rights while denying those same 12:16 12 minutes, 16 seconds rights to others. We cannot ask the world to respect our beliefs while refusing to respect the freedom of conscience of another human being. Mr. 12:26 12 minutes, 26 seconds President, there is a wider principle here. Also, this ultimately is also about human dignity. If we recognize the 12:34 12 minutes, 34 seconds dignity of every human being, then we must consider the cons conditions in which people live and the earth which we 12:41 12 minutes, 41 seconds will leave behind for our children. The United Nations General Assembly has recognized the human right to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment. We 12:50 12 minutes, 50 seconds value is freedom. What what is I beg a pardon. What value is freedom if a child has no water to drink? What values 12:59 12 minutes, 59 seconds development if we destroy the environment that sustains life? And what inheritance are we leaving behind for 13:06 13 minutes, 6 seconds our children if the forest disappears, our oceans become polluted, and our climate becomes increasingly unstable? 13:14 13 minutes, 14 seconds There is one reality that transcends transcends every political, economic and religious differences between us and that is we have one planet, one earth. 13:26 13 minutes, 26 seconds There is no other known habitable planet presently within reach of humanity. You 13:33 13 minutes, 33 seconds can be the most powerful capitalist or you can be the most powerful technocrat. 13:38 13 minutes, 38 seconds You can reach out to the observable universe. Billions and billions of light years into the observable universe, you find no planet like our planet earth. 13:49 13 minutes, 49 seconds USA scientists, Russian scientists, big nations sets the world. Big industrialist sets the world. You cannot bring your population to another planet. 14:00 14 minutes This earth is our common home. What of our religion, nationality, political system, we breathe the same atmosphere. 14:08 14 minutes, 8 seconds We share the same ocean. We depend upon the same global climate. And ultimately, we share the consequence of what humanity does to this planet. Mr. 14:18 14 minutes, 18 seconds President, think about the children of the world. A child born today did not create climate change. That child did not choose the wars of this generation. 14:28 14 minutes, 28 seconds That child did not create pollution or the environmental dis destructions. Yet that child will inherit the consequence 14:36 14 minutes, 36 seconds of the decisions we make today. We must therefore be custodians not only of the present but also of the future. 14:44 14 minutes, 44 seconds Future generations cannot stand before this assembly today and argue for themselves. 14:50 14 minutes, 50 seconds We must consider them when we make decisions about war and peace, development, energy, forest, oceans, 14:58 14 minutes, 58 seconds minerals and global economy. Papa understands this responsibility. We are custodians of great tropical forests, 15:06 15 minutes, 6 seconds extraordinary biodiversity and vast ocean space. For us, environment is not an abstract for international 15:13 15 minutes, 13 seconds discussion. It is where we live. It is where we grow our food. It is where we fish. It is the inheritance we will pass 15:22 15 minutes, 22 seconds on to our children. Mr. President, in our interconnected world, decents made in one country can affect people 15:29 15 minutes, 29 seconds thousands of kilometers away. Greenhouse gas do not recognize nestled borders. 15:35 15 minutes, 35 seconds Pollution carried by ocean does not stop at migration points. Wars can disrupt food, fuel, energy, trade, supply chains 15:44 15 minutes, 44 seconds far from the battlefield. Economic decisions made in the world’s largest economy can reach an ordinary family in 15:51 15 minutes, 51 seconds a small developing country. A mother buying food can feel the consequences. A farmer buying fuel can feel the 15:59 15 minutes, 59 seconds consequences. A small business facing higher transport cost can feel the consequence. and the developing countries trying to build roads, schools and hospitals can feel the consequences. 16:10 16 minutes, 10 seconds This is why leadership in powerful nations carry responsibilities beyond your nestled borders. With greater power comes greater responsibility. 16:20 16 minutes, 20 seconds Papa respectfully asked leaders of the world’s major powers to remember the ordinary people whose lives can be 16:27 16 minutes, 27 seconds affected by decisions made far away from them. When wars disrupt f food, fuel and 16:34 16 minutes, 34 seconds trade, families from far from the battlefield can experience higher prices and economic uncertainty. When climate 16:43 16 minutes, 43 seconds changes, communities that have contributed little to global greenhouse gas emissions can nevertheless face rising seas, extreme weather, threats to 16:52 16 minutes, 52 seconds food security, and damage to life livelihoods. Mr. President, my appeal to leaders everywhere is really simple. Put 17:01 17 minutes, 1 second human welfare aid of war. Put humanity aired of narrow geopolitical interest. 17:07 17 minutes, 7 seconds Choose dialogue and peaceful settlement wherever possible. 17:12 17 minutes, 12 seconds Remember ordinary families when making major economic decisions. Balance commercial interests with the welfare of 17:19 17 minutes, 19 seconds people. Use technology to advance human dignity and not diminish it. Protect our planet while pursuing development. and 17:28 17 minutes, 28 seconds place the interests of our children and future generations at the heart of decisions we make today. Leadership is not measured only by the power of a 17:36 17 minutes, 36 seconds nation. I beg a pardon again. Leadership is not defined only by the power you possess as a leader of a powerful 17:45 17 minutes, 45 seconds nation. Leadership is also measured by the responsibility that comes with how you exercise that power. Papini does not 17:54 17 minutes, 54 seconds claim to have all the answers. We still are developing nation. Just few years ago, we became a middle incoming nation. 18:02 18 minutes, 2 seconds We have our own challenges. But perhaps our position as a Pacific nation allows us to remind the larger powers of a 18:10 18 minutes, 10 seconds simple reality. No nation is so powerful that it can live apart from the earth. 18:16 18 minutes, 16 seconds No nation is so small that its people should be forgotten when decisions affecting humanity are made. Military strength of a nation does not make the rights of another nation less important. 18:27 18 minutes, 27 seconds The size of an economy does not make the dignity of a poorer person less important. Technological advancement does not diminish our obligation to 18:36 18 minutes, 36 seconds protect human freedom. The size of a religious majority does not reduce the rights of a minority. Power in all forms 18:44 18 minutes, 44 seconds must be exercised with responsibility and care. Mr. President in PNZ we are many tribes we are many languages we are 18:53 18 minutes, 53 seconds many churches we are many cultures but we are one nation perhaps this lesson can be taught to everyone 19:00 19 minutes guini puts this to the assembly you do not have to believe what I believe in for you to defend human rights of another person let governments govern 19:09 19 minutes, 9 seconds for people let churches preach and preach love to each other let most pray faithfully let temples welcome the 19:17 19 minutes, 17 seconds worshippers let people set their own conscience. Let economies serve humanity. Let technology serve humanity. 19:24 19 minutes, 24 seconds Let powerful nations exercise their power respectly. Let nations resolve their differences peacefully wherever possible. And I pause here especially 19:33 19 minutes, 33 seconds all Christian nations, all Christian nations. Our Lord and Savior Jesus talks about peace and not war. Those who are 19:42 19 minutes, 42 seconds pro promoting peace are sons of God. You don’t promote peace, you’re not sons of God. And may this be known to every Christian nations. Let no state compel 19:51 19 minutes, 51 seconds the human soul. Mr. President, we may have different religions. We may have different political systems. We may have different cultures and national 19:59 19 minutes, 59 seconds interests. We may we may be big nations or small nations. We may be rich or poor. We may we may possess different levels of military, economic and 20:08 20 minutes, 8 seconds technological power. But beneath those differences, we say something greater. We say our humanity. We say one earth. 20:17 20 minutes, 17 seconds This is our home. We must protect it. We must protect each other. We must leave our children a better world than the one 20:24 20 minutes, 24 seconds we are presently living in. Papa Nigini will remain proudly proudly Christian. 20:29 20 minutes, 29 seconds But we will also remain committed to the freedom of conscience, thought and religion. For ultimately faith cannot be governed or commanded by government. 20:38 20 minutes, 38 seconds Faith must come from the heart. God has given humanity the capacity to choose that freedom and that freedom must be respected. God has entrusted this earth to our generation for only a short time. 20:49 20 minutes, 49 seconds Let us use it wisely and pass it to the next generation. Let us pursue peace. 20:54 20 minutes, 54 seconds Let us uphold the chart of United Nations. Let us respect the rights and dignity of every human being. Let us work together big or small nations. Let 21:03 21 minutes, 3 seconds us ensure that power whether military, economic, technology or reli religious is never used to suppress the rights of others. Let us protect our common home. 21:13 21 minutes, 13 seconds Let us remember always the generation who will follow follow us. Mr. President and on this note I want to close by 21:20 21 minutes, 20 seconds thanking United Nations and those who have stood in Papa Nigini the last 51 years of our nationhood. We have faced 21:26 21 minutes, 26 seconds many challenges as a country growing we are growing economy. We are working to make sure enabling infrastructures 21:34 21 minutes, 34 seconds reaches all people. We’re making to making to make sure quality education and health services covers all people. 21:41 21 minutes, 41 seconds We are moving towards a cleaner green energy. We’re conserving our forests and our oceans. We’re strengthening our independent judic to make our judiciary 21:50 21 minutes, 50 seconds stronger, robust and independent. We protecting our free market economy. We opening doors for more foreign investments to grow. But all this comes 21:58 21 minutes, 58 seconds at the backdrop of giving respect to every person in our country of so much diversity. The human right is respected. 22:06 22 minutes, 6 seconds And I want to ask every one of us, let’s respect human rights of every citizens of this planet. That is the least we can do. 22:15 22 minutes, 15 seconds I want to assure this assembly that my government is working to the best of ability to protect the rights of the 11 22:22 22 minutes, 22 seconds million people of my country, giving them a better and equal opportunity to progress their 22:30 22 minutes, 30 seconds own life, the life that God has planned for the God-given homeland that I call 22:36 22 minutes, 36 seconds and many 11 million of us call Papa Nigini. I want to pray in conclusion. I 22:44 22 minutes, 44 seconds want to thank every one of you who have supported Papa Nigini. 22:49 22 minutes, 49 seconds In close closing for those families right across the world who are facing issues in relation to climate change and 22:58 22 minutes, 58 seconds natural calamities or to those who are facing issues and pain in relation to man-made crisis. May God give you all 23:08 23 minutes, 8 seconds consolation, peace and comfort. And I pray for same blessing to not just my country but every citizen of this 23:16 23 minutes, 16 seconds planet. As we work to pro protect our planet, our planet must be protected. 23:22 23 minutes, 22 seconds Until Jesus come, we must work to protect our planet. God bless everyone. Thank you for listening. 23:40 23 minutes, 40 seconds On behalf of the assembly, I wish to thank the prime minister of the independent state of Papu Nigin. 23:57 23 minutes, 57 seconds The assembly will hear an address by his excellency Lamin Zen Ali Mahm.