Pope’s Historic Asia-Pacific Journey: Vatican Unveils Highly Anticipated Itinerary
Pope Francis’ Pastoral Visit to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore
Table of Contents
The director of the Holy See Press Office, Bruni, gave a press conference on Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore from September 2 to 13. This is the longest trip of Pope Francis’ apostolic pontificate. Bruni said: “There is no reason to worry about the health of the Pope.” He will give 16 speeches in Italian and Spanish, covering themes such as peace and creation. The Pope will sign a joint statement with the Grand Imam of Jakarta and visit the “Tunnel of Friendship” with him.
The Longest Journey
Pope Francis’ trip covered two continents, four time zones, and a total flight distance of 32,814 kilometers. This is the longest trip of his papacy, but it is not the first in the history of all popes. The longest papal trip so far was set by John Paul II, who visited Bangladesh, Singapore, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia in 13 days in 1986, flying a distance of 48,974 kilometers.
Following in the Footsteps
On August 30, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Bruni, briefed the international media on the details of the Pope’s visit, saying that Francis followed in the footsteps of Paul VI and John Paul II, as his two predecessors had visited these places in the early 1970s and late 1980s.
Challenges to Peace
Pope Francis is traveling there at a historic moment filled with other challenges, the first of which is world peace. The Pope will therefore renew his call to make peace and support current efforts to promote peace.
Encouragement and Comfort
In addition to culturally diverse Indonesia, Pope Francis also has “words of comfort or encouragement” for Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. Papua New Guinea has been hit hard by severe landslides and tribal fighting in recent years; East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was scarred by its independence war, in which nearly a quarter of the population died in 22 years; and Singapore, a country that symbolizes wealth, trade, and technology, but also has deep social inequality and poverty.
Environmental Issues
Although these four Asia-Pacific countries are different, they all have one thing in common: the environment. “It is difficult not to mention the environment. These countries are located between the sea and the sky, with sea and mountains, rich mineral resources, and forests. We can expect a reflection on the care of creation and the decent life of people,” Bruni said.
Themes of the Pope’s Speeches
These themes will be reflected in the 16 speeches the Pope will deliver during his trip: four in Indonesia, five in Papua New Guinea, and three in Singapore will be delivered in Italian; the four in East Timor will be in Spanish.
Measures for the Pope’s Health
The Vatican spokesman finally answered several questions about the Pope’s health, including the difficulty of adjusting to jet lag and high humidity during this trip. The director of the Holy See Press Office said, “There is nothing to worry about. The current health measures, which are already taken in every pastoral visit, have been confirmed to be sufficient.”