Pope Francis Starts His Longest Asia-Pacific Tour
Pope Francis has landed in Jakarta, Indonesia, marking the beginning of his longest trip as Pope to the Asia-Pacific region. Over the next 12 days, he will visit Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore. This trip focuses on environmental issues and fostering dialogue between different religions.
The Pope, who is turning 88 in December and facing health challenges, is retracing some of the path taken by St. John Paul II during his papacy. The journey, which was originally set for 2020 but delayed due to the pandemic, will see Francis addressing both Christian and Muslim communities, emphasizing shared values.
In Jakarta, he plans to visit a major mosque, meet Indonesia’s outgoing president Joko Widodo, and hold a mass for 70,000 people. His visit highlights a strong interest in improving relations between Christians and Muslims, especially in Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population.
In Papua New Guinea, Francis will meet with missionaries from Argentina and hopes his visit will support their work. In Timor-Leste, he’ll celebrate mass on the same site where St. John Paul II comforted local Catholics in 1989. However, recent reports of homes being demolished in the area have cast a shadow on this part of the visit.
The trip will conclude in Singapore with a mass at the National Stadium. The Pope’s health is a concern, given his recent struggles, but he continues to travel with a medical team. His previous visits to Asia included trips to South Korea, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Japan, among others. Despite ongoing tensions, the Vatican and China have made some agreements on bishop appointments, though a papal visit to China remains unresolved.
This ambitious tour reflects the Pope’s commitment to engaging with diverse communities and addressing global challenges, according to BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2npr4pg5no