Pope Francis is set to embark on a significant 12-day journey across Southeast Asia, marking the longest and farthest trip of his papacy, despite his advancing age and health challenges.
The 87-year-old pontiff will depart on Monday, flying overnight to arrive in Jakarta, Indonesia’s bustling capital, on Tuesday. From there, he will visit Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore, covering a vast distance of nearly 32,000 kilometers (about 20,000 miles) with an eight-hour time difference, making it a demanding journey.
Undeterred by the challenges, Pope Francis, who prioritizes spreading the faith, has planned an intense schedule. He will deliver 16 speeches and lead several large masses, aiming to inspire and unite the growing Catholic communities in the region.
Originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic, this tour marks the pope’s 45th international trip. However, the past four years have seen his health decline. The Argentine pontiff now frequently uses a wheelchair, underwent hernia surgery last year, and has faced respiratory issues. Since his last international trip to Marseille in September 2023, he had to cancel a planned address at the UN climate talks in Dubai two months later.
Despite these health concerns, recent appearances suggest that Pope Francis is in good spirits. According to a Vatican source, no special medical arrangements have been made for this journey, beyond the usual accompaniment of a doctor and nurse.
During his visit, the pope aims to strengthen ties with the Catholic communities and governments in each country, fostering a sense of unity. Michel Chambon, a theologian and anthropologist at the National University of Singapore, highlighted the importance of the pope’s visit in reinforcing the role of the Holy See and its connection with local Catholics. He noted that engaging with Asian traditions is crucial for the Vatican’s universal mission, especially as Asia becomes increasingly influential on the global stage.
The trip will also see Pope Francis addressing issues that have been central to his papacy, including inter-religious dialogue, migration, and environmental concerns.
In Jakarta, after a day of rest, the pope will meet with outgoing President Joko Widodo, along with young people, diplomats, and local clergy. A significant moment of the trip will be his meeting with representatives of Indonesia’s major religions at Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia’s largest. There, he will sign a joint declaration with Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar, underscoring the importance of religious harmony in a nation that, while predominantly Muslim, officially recognizes Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.
Despite this recognition, religious discrimination, particularly against Christians, remains a concern in Indonesia. Usman Hamid, Amnesty International’s executive director in Indonesia, pointed out ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities, including attacks on churches and difficulties in securing permits for religious buildings. Jesuit priest Krispurwana Cahyadi echoed these concerns, noting that religious intolerance continues to be an issue, even if official rhetoric suggests otherwise.
Pope Francis will be the third pontiff to visit Indonesia, following in the footsteps of Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1989.
On September 6, the pope will travel to Papua New Guinea, a diverse nation where he will spend three nights. His visit will include meetings with street children and a day trip to Vanimo in the northwest. Environmental protection is expected to be a key theme of his visit, especially in a country that faces significant deforestation and frequent natural disasters.
Next, the pope will visit East Timor, a predominantly Catholic nation and one of the newest in the world. Here, the Church has not been immune to the global issue of clerical child abuse. In 2020, the Vatican sanctioned Bishop Carlos Belo, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, following accusations of sexual abuse against boys in East Timor over two decades.
Pope Francis will conclude his tour with a two-day visit to Singapore, a vibrant city-state with a population of six million.
