The Vatican announced that Pope Francis will embark on his longest trip yet, visiting Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore in September. This trip will test the pope's health and mobility.
The Israeli military intercepted dozens of rockets and missiles Sunday night fired by Iran, the first time it directly attacked Israel. Pope Francis asperses holy water as he celebrates Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , Sunday, March 31, 2024. Pope Francis will visit Indonesia , East Timor , Papua New Guinea , and Singapore in September, the Vatican announced Friday, confirming the longest trip of Francis' papacy that is sure to test his health, stamina, and mobility.
Francis has also been using a wheelchair for nearly two years because of bad knee ligaments, and has said that traveling has become increasingly more difficult. In a statement announcing the visit, the Indonesian foreign ministry welcomed the visit and recalled that it had originally been scheduled for 2020 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
East Timor, which today has a population of about 1.2 million people, is Southeast Asia's only predominantly Christian nation with the exception of the Philippines. According to the 2015 census, 97.6% of East Timor's population is Catholic.
Pope Francis Visit Indonesia East Timor Papua New Guinea Singapore Vatican Health Mobility
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