Papa Leo was a wonderful and loving man. He was a real man of God, always friendly and caring towards everyone especially little children.
He lived in a humble and simple home. His door was open to all, every day, to the people he served.
The little children knew that he was friendly and loving. That encouraged them to visit his house each afternoon after school. They would always go in a group to give each other courage as some of the children were too shy to talk to this tall whiteman. He was 6’4” and very well built.
Each visit without fail he would come to the door of his house to greet the children, always with a warm and welcoming smile.
He greeted them by saying “Avinun olgeta, yupela orait?” Good afternoon and how are you all? They would all answer with one voice! “Yes bishop mipela orait” with lot of giggles and laughter.
They wanted religious pictures from the Holy Land. He always had something for everyone.
One day the children discovered that he did not only have the pictures but also had something better: “lollies” from a foreign land called “America”. He would give each child a picture and a lolly to take home. Now he couldn’t keep them away from his house.
Perhaps he made a mistake by giving that first lolly to a lone visitor. The story got around that papa had lollies, as they were hard to come by in those days.
He was their flying bishop. He died at age 87 and is loved and missed by all, especially the ones like me who once frequented his house.
They affectionately call him “Papa Leo, our Sepik Saint”. He was the only flying bishop in the South Pacific. A true man of God.
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