Pope Francis will visit four countries in Asia and Oceania over 12 days. It is the longest papal trip in history.
On the 2nd (local time) at 5:33 PM, the Pope departed from Fiumicino International Airport in Rome, Italy on a special flight for his 45th overseas pastoral visit.
The next day, on the morning of the 3rd, he will arrive in Jakarta, Indonesia, beginning a rigorous 12-day journey visiting four countries including Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. The total flight distance reaches 32,814 km. Both the duration and distance are the longest in papal history.
Before departure, the Pope wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Today I embark on an apostolic journey to several countries in Asia and Oceania," and asked for prayers for the success of this journey. CNN reported that "the Pope will emphasize interreligious dialogue, reconciliation, and environmental protection," adding that "this visit reflects significant changes occurring within the Catholic Church and the growing importance of Asia."
The motto for this apostolic journey is ▲ Faith, fraternity, and compassion (Indonesia) ▲ Prayer (Papua New Guinea) ▲ Indigenous culture and tradition (East Timor) ▲ Unity and hope (Singapore). The Pope is expected to comfort those who suffer discrimination and persecution due to their faith while living among diverse ethnicities, cultures, and religious beliefs, emphasizing dialogue and reconciliation. He will also celebrate outdoor Masses in all the countries visited and is expected to call for global action on environmental issues such as climate change.
First, in Indonesia, the initial destination, he plans to visit major mosques in the capital Jakarta, including touring the "Tunnel of Friendship" connecting Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral. He will also meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
In Papua New Guinea, the Pope plans to meet missionaries from his home country, Argentina. He is expected to deliver a message on the climate crisis, addressing issues such as rising sea levels, increasingly severe heatwaves, and typhoons.
Afterward, the Pope will move to East Timor to celebrate Mass along the seaside promenade where former Pope John Paul II held Mass in 1989. At that time, East Timor was under Indonesian rule, and John Paul II’s visit helped broadcast the East Timorese people's desire for independence to the world.
The Pope’s final destination is Singapore, where 74% of the population is of Chinese descent. AP News evaluated that this visit to Singapore will be another opportunity as the Holy See seeks to improve relations with China.
There are concerns that this trip may be physically challenging for the Pope, who will turn 88 in December. As usual, two medical teams consisting of his personal physician and nurses will accompany him. Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesperson, stated that the Pope’s health is good and that no special medical precautions have been taken.
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