Pope Wraps Up Asia-Pacific Tour with Masses and Medical Supply Deliveries
The Pontiff is currently in Singapore, marking the conclusion of a successful 12-day, 20,000-mile tour of the Asia-Pacific region.
Pope Francis is wrapping up his visit to the Asia-Pacific region, covering 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) and visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore over the past 12 days.
Despite spending much of the time in a wheelchair, the 87-year-old Pontiff was determined to fulfill a schedule of over 40 events, showcasing his ability to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
As church membership declines in the West, Asia is becoming increasingly important for the preservation and growth of the faith.
Indonesia
His first stop, Indonesia, highlighted a major internal issue when Indonesian police thwarted a terror plot linked to ISIS, leading to the arrest of seven individuals.
As the largest Muslim country globally, Indonesia responded positively to the Pope’s presence, including his visit to the Istiqlal Mosque.
During his visit, the Pontiff engaged with grand imam Nasaruddin Umar and representatives from six officially recognized religions in Indonesia, emphasizing the theme of interfaith dialogue.
Related Stories
While his message of tolerance was widely embraced, there are still underlying tensions among certain Muslim groups in Indonesia.
For instance, the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) views secularism, pluralism, and liberalism as “deviant,” as reflected in a fatwa issued in 2005 that remains in place.
Although minorities like the Shias and Ahmadis face less persecution than before, they are still marginalized by the majority Sunnis.
Papua New Guinea
The next destination was Papua New Guinea, where Pope Francis transitioned from leading Mass in Jakarta to visiting a remote village called Vanimo, reaching there via a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 aircraft.
Papuans take part in a protest held in front of the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in Jakarta on Sept. 4, 2024, to request Pope Francis’s immediate intervention against the Indonesian government’s military operations in Papua province. Bay Ismoyo/AFP via Getty Images
He interacted with the local Catholic community, Argentine missionaries ministering to them, and distributed toys and medical supplies.
Despite the remoteness of the village, around 20,000 Catholics and spectators gathered to listen to his message.
In light of tribal conflicts over land and other issues, he urged villagers to treat each other with kindness.
He emphasized that promoting good behavior could help eliminate negative practices like violence, infidelity, and substance abuse, providing happiness to many individuals.
Papua New Guinea has about 2.5 million Catholics out of a population of 10 million, blending their Catholic faith with traditional Indigenous beliefs.
East Timor
Continuing to East Timor, one of Asia’s two predominantly Catholic nations, approximately 600,000 people attended the Papal mass, nearly half of the country’s population.
Also known as Timor Leste, this young country has strong ties to the Catholic Church, pivotal in its struggle for independence from Indonesia.
Pope Francis (C) is greeted upon his arrival at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili on Sept. 9, 2024. Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty Images
In his address in Dili, the Pontiff emphasized the protection of children’s dignity and the prevention of abuse.
Authorities faced criticism for demolishing homes and displacing individuals in the area where the mass was held.
It is the second and final day of the Pope’s visit to Singapore on September 12. He has engaged with political leaders and is set to celebrate mass at the National Stadium with an expected attendance of 50,000 people.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese estimates that Singapore has around 395,000 Catholics.
