Pope goes to large Asian trip

Pope Francis has embarked on an 11-day journey to Asia and Oceania, marking the longest international trip of his pontificate. From September 2 to 13, he will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. His first stop is Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, which he reached on September 3 after a 13-hour flight from Rome, covering a distance of 11,354 kilometers. This extensive trip is part of Pope Francis’ efforts to engage with communities on the periphery of global Catholicism. The focus of his visit will be on interreligious dialogue, encounters with local Christians, Muslims, indigenous communities, street children, and meetings with government leaders and civil society. Historically, the Vatican has maintained strong ties with Indonesia, recognizing its independence in 1947 as the first European state to do so. This will be Pope Francis’ third visit to Indonesia, following in the footsteps of Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1989. During his trip, Pope Francis will emphasize the importance of living together in harmony, particularly in Indonesia, where Catholics are a minority but play a significant role in society. He will meet with the Grand Imam and visit the cathedral and the great [...]

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