Thousands of people in one of the world's most remote Catholic communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) turned out to see Pope Francis on Sunday (September 8).

Travelling 1,000 km (620 miles) in a C-130 cargo aircraft provided by the Royal Australian Air Force, Pope Francis arrived with a small entourage in Vanimo, a township of some 12,000 people in the north-western corner of PNG's main island, with no running water and scarce electricity.

Francis was greeted in a field outside the cathedral with a traditional dance from a group wearing feathered headdresses and straw skirts.

Steven Abala, a lay teacher, presented the Pope with a headdress with yellow and brown feathers, which the pope tried on. The Pope addressed the large crowd before travelling to a school in the nearby town of Baro.

The Vatican says there are around 2.5 million Catholics in PNG, which has a population estimated at anywhere from 9 million to 17 million.

The pope will return to the capital Port Moresby on Sunday evening after spending several hours in the area.