VATICAN CITY (EFE).— Pope Francis is embarking on the longest and most complex trip of his pontificate when he visits Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore from September 2 to 13, with the aim of relaunching dialogue with Islam, supporting small Catholic communities and missionaries and drawing attention to the drastic consequences of climate change.
At 87 years of age, and with mobility problems that force him to use a wheelchair, the Pope returns to Asia, the continent of hope for the Catholic Church, and will be the third pontiff to visit Indonesia, after Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1989.
He will visit tiny East Timor, a predominantly Catholic country that has been independent for just twenty years but is still marked by the legacy of a bloody conflict. He will travel to remote Papua New Guinea, a land of missionaries, and for the first time he will set foot in Oceania and the city-state of Singapore, a crossroads of the world economy and also a new opportunity for rapprochement with China.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, with 86.7% of a population of 277 million. Although Catholics are a minority, at only 2.9%, at 8 million they are the second-largest Christian population in Southeast Asia, after the Philippines, and the third-largest in Asia after the Philippines and China.
In addition to the obligatory formalities with the country’s authorities, the main event of his stay in Jakarta will be the interfaith meeting at the capital’s Istiqlal mosque, which is expected to be attended by leaders of Indonesia’s six officially recognised religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.
At the event, although it is not known whether Francis will visit it, the so-called “Tunnel of Friendship” will be inaugurated, an underground passage that connects the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption with the Istiqlal mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, and a joint document will be signed on humanitarian, tolerance and environmental issues.
The Pope’s presence in Jakarta and later in fragile Papua New Guinea will also serve to highlight the effects of climate change.
The situation in Jakarta, the so-called “sinking city”, with part of the city even below sea level and where land subsidence is also a cause for concern, reaching up to 20 centimetres per year in some areas and all aggravated by rising sea levels due to climate change, has forced the government to move the capital to Nusantara.
Francis will also sound the alarm in Papua New Guinea, home to an extraordinary biodiversity that is threatened by environmental disasters exacerbated by the climate crisis, indiscriminate mining activities and uncontrolled deforestation. In addition, the country’s islands are exposed to rising sea levels.
In his desire to travel to the peripheries of the world, Francis will travel to the “periphery of the periphery” by traveling to Vánimo, a remote town in the jungle of Papua New Guinea.
#Pope #long #complex #journey
2024-09-15 23:03:21
– What are the main topics Pope Francis will address during his trip to the Asia Pacific?
Table of Contents
Pope Francis Embarks on Historic Trip to Asia Pacific, Focusing on Interfaith Dialogue, Catholic Communities, and Climate Change
In a significant and complex trip, Pope Francis is visiting Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore from September 2 to 13, marking the longest and most extensive journey of his papacy. At 87 years old and using a wheelchair due to mobility issues, the Pope is determined to relaunch dialogue with Islam, support small Catholic communities and missionaries, and draw attention to the drastic consequences of climate change.
This trip marks the Pope’s return to Asia, a continent of great importance for the Catholic Church, and his third visit to Indonesia, following in the footsteps of Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1989 [[1]]. He will also become the first Pope to set foot in Oceania and the city-state of Singapore, a crucial hub for global economy and a new opportunity for rapprochement with China.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, with 86.7% of its 277 million population identifying as Muslim, will be a key destination for the Pope. Although Catholics make up only 2.9% of the population, they are the second-largest Christian population in Southeast Asia, with 8 million adherents [[1]]. During his stay in Jakarta, the Pope will participate in an interfaith meeting at the Istiqlal mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, where leaders of Indonesia’s six officially recognized religions will gather to promote dialogue and understanding.
At the event, the “Tunnel of Friendship” will be inaugurated, an underground passage connecting the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption with the Istiqlal mosque. A joint document will also be signed on humanitarian, tolerance, and environmental issues, highlighting the Pope’s commitment to interfaith dialogue and cooperation [[3]].
Climate change is another pressing issue that the Pope will address during his trip. Jakarta, known as the ”sinking city,” is experiencing severe land subsidence, with parts of the city below sea level, and rising sea levels due to climate change exacerbating the problem. The Pope’s presence in Jakarta and later in fragile Papua New Guinea will serve to highlight the devastating effects of climate change and the need for collective action to mitigate its impacts [[2]].
In recent news, Pope Francis has also weighed in on the 2024 U.S. presidential election, indicating to reporters on the papal plane that both candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, are “both against life” in terms of their stance on abortion and immigration [[3]].
As the Pope embarks on this historic trip, he is expected to bring attention to the region’s pressing issues, including interfaith dialogue, climate change, and the plight of Catholic communities in Asia Pacific. His message of hope, unity, and cooperation is likely to resonate with people across the region and around the world.
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What are the main goals of Pope Francis’s trip to the Asia Pacific region?
Pope Francis Embarks on Historic Trip to Asia Pacific, Focusing on Interfaith Dialogue, Catholic Communities, and Climate Change
In a significant and complex trip, Pope Francis is visiting Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore from September 2 to 13, marking the longest and most extensive journey of his papacy. At 87 years old and using a wheelchair due to mobility issues, the Pope is determined to relaunch dialogue with Islam, support small Catholic communities and missionaries, and draw attention to the drastic consequences of climate change.
Interfaith Dialogue and Catholic Communities
The trip marks the Pope’s return to Asia, a continent of great importance for the Catholic Church, and his third visit to Indonesia, following in the footsteps of Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1989. He will also become the first Pope to set foot in Oceania and the city-state of Singapore, a crucial hub for global economy and a new opportunity for rapprochement with China.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, with 86.7% of its 277 million population identifying as Muslim, will be a key destination for the Pope. Although Catholics make up only 2.9% of the population, they are the second-largest Christian population
