Pope Francis to embark on lengthy Southeast Asia tour

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Southeast Asia in an 11-day international journey, his longest trip abroad to date, according to the Vatican’s announcement on Friday. From September 2 to 13, the Pope will travel to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.

This extensive tour marks a significant pace change for the 87-year-old Pope, who has recently slowed down his travel schedule due to health issues, leading to several canceled public engagements.

The Pope, who often uses a wheelchair, has not undertaken international travel since September 2023.

Indonesia: The Pope’s journey will commence in Indonesia, the country with the world’s largest Muslim population from 2-5 September. Indonesia is a pivotal location for interfaith dialogue, home to 229 million Muslims and more than 29 million Christians, including 7 million Catholics. Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta expressed hopes that the Pope’s visit will inspire Indonesian Catholics to live out their faith with courage and love. Pope Francis’ presence is anticipated to bridge gaps between religious communities in a country previously visited by Popes Paul VI and John Paul II.

Papua New Guinea: From 6-9 September, the Pope will visit Papua New Guinea, a culturally rich nation with over 851 indigenous languages. This country of nearly 9 million people, where 26% of the population is Catholic, expects to reflect on its Christian unity amidst immense cultural diversity.

East Timor:  The tour will continue to East Timor, where the Pope will stay from 9-11 September. East Timor, where over 97% of the population is Catholic, gained independence in 1999 after a protracted struggle for sovereignty. This visit comes at a time when the nation reflects on its journey towards peace, especially recalling the contributions of Nobel Laureate Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, despite recent controversies surrounding him.

Singapore: Pope Francis will conclude his journey in Singapore, from 11-13 September. As one of Asia’s most economically prosperous countries, Singapore presents a unique backdrop for the Pope’s messages on inclusivity and multicultural coexistence.

Since assuming the papacy 11 years ago, Pope Francis has traveled internationally on 44 occasions, with his latest trip being to Marseille, France, in September last year.

In addition to his extensive upcoming journey through Southeast Asia, Pope Francis has a busy itinerary for the year, including a visit to Belgium. He has also hinted at a long-awaited return to his native Argentina.

Within Italy, the Pope has three domestic trips scheduled, the first of which will take him to Venice on 28 April. These visits are part of his ongoing efforts to engage with communities and promote the Church’s message directly.