Pope Francis Announces Longest Papal Trip to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore, Amid Health Concerns
Pope Francis will make a nine-day trip to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore in September, making it the longest journey of his papacy.
The 87-year-old pope, who has had health concerns, will visit Jakarta, Indonesia; Port Moresby and Vanimo, Papua New Guinea; Dili, East Timor; and Singapore.
Details will be announced later.
Francis' health has been a source of concern due to his age and previous respiratory issues, including bronchitis, which forced him to cancel a visit to Dubai late last year.
He also had to limit his participation in Holy Week events to conserve energy for Easter.
Pope Francis, who uses a wheelchair due to knee ligament issues, is embarking on a 11-day trip, which will be the longest of his papacy.
The journey will take him to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, and East Timor, where the Catholic Church holds significant influence.
The visit was originally planned for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indonesian foreign ministry expressed excitement about the trip, noting its importance to all religious communities in the country.
Indonesia's President Jokowi is making an official visit to East Timor, the only predominantly Christian nation in Southeast Asia with a population of about 1.2 million people, all but 3% of whom are Catholic.
The visit aims to promote tolerance, unity, and world peace.
The trip may bring renewed focus on a clergy sex abuse scandal involving Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, who was sanctioned by the Vatican in 2022 for allegedly abusing boys in East Timor during the 1990s.
Indonesia has approximately 242 million Muslims and 29 million Christians, including 8.5 million Catholics.
Pope Francis is set to be the first pope to visit Papua New Guinea since St. John Paul II in 1984.
The country, located in a strategically important part of the South Pacific, has faced tribal violence and civil unrest.
John Paul also visited Singapore in 1986.
There are approximately 395,000 Catholics in Papua New Guinea.
The Vatican has planned only one other papal trip this year, to Belgium for the anniversary of the country’s Catholic university.
Pope Francis has expressed a desire to return to his native Argentina, but no plans or dates have been announced.
Belo, a former pope, is believed to now be living in Portugal.
Details will be announced later.
Francis' health has been a source of concern due to his age and previous respiratory issues, including bronchitis, which forced him to cancel a visit to Dubai late last year.
He also had to limit his participation in Holy Week events to conserve energy for Easter.
Pope Francis, who uses a wheelchair due to knee ligament issues, is embarking on a 11-day trip, which will be the longest of his papacy.
The journey will take him to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, and East Timor, where the Catholic Church holds significant influence.
The visit was originally planned for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indonesian foreign ministry expressed excitement about the trip, noting its importance to all religious communities in the country.
Indonesia's President Jokowi is making an official visit to East Timor, the only predominantly Christian nation in Southeast Asia with a population of about 1.2 million people, all but 3% of whom are Catholic.
The visit aims to promote tolerance, unity, and world peace.
The trip may bring renewed focus on a clergy sex abuse scandal involving Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, who was sanctioned by the Vatican in 2022 for allegedly abusing boys in East Timor during the 1990s.
Indonesia has approximately 242 million Muslims and 29 million Christians, including 8.5 million Catholics.
Pope Francis is set to be the first pope to visit Papua New Guinea since St. John Paul II in 1984.
The country, located in a strategically important part of the South Pacific, has faced tribal violence and civil unrest.
John Paul also visited Singapore in 1986.
There are approximately 395,000 Catholics in Papua New Guinea.
The Vatican has planned only one other papal trip this year, to Belgium for the anniversary of the country’s Catholic university.
Pope Francis has expressed a desire to return to his native Argentina, but no plans or dates have been announced.
Belo, a former pope, is believed to now be living in Portugal.
Translation:
Translated by AI