Pope Francis left for Asia and Oceania: a journey of over 32,000 km in 12 days
Stages in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore
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Key points
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Pope Francis departed from Fiumicino airport for a 12-day trip to Southeast Asia and Oceania, the 45th of his pontificate, which brings to 65 the number of countries visited by the Pontiff. Four of them will be visited by Bergoglio until 13 September on his Asia-Pacific Tropics itinerary, his longest international trip with 12 days and 32,814 km: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
Migrants are in my heart
."Migrants are in my heart," Pope Francis said during the flight to Indonesia, receiving as a gift from a journalist in tow a torch used by migrants to signal themselves at sea in case of shipwreck. The journalist had reported a fortnight ago on the Sos Mediterranee ship Ocean Viking, and the torch - which he gave to Francis wearing the ship's T-shirt - had been given to him by a migrant to bring to the Pope. The Pontiff, moved, expressed his thanks. "Thank you for what you do to tell the migrants' stories. They are in my heart," Pope Francis told the journalists on board.
To Mattarella the wish for peace and prosperity for Italy
As the Pope left Italian soil for Indonesia, he sent the customary telegram to Head of State Sergio Mattarella. "As I prepare to make my apostolic journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore, moved by the desire to meet brothers and sisters in the faith and all those who, in those nations rich in human and spiritual values, have been witnesses of solidarity and dialogue even in times and situations marked by trial, I am pleased to address to you, Mr President, and to the dear Italian people the expression of my best wishes, which I accompany with cordial wishes for peace and prosperity.
The Sixteen Speeches of Francis
Francis will deliver a total of 16 speeches, all in Italian except the four in East Timor, which will be in Spanish. The main themes on the table range from dialogue and peaceful coexistence between different faiths, to the search for harmony in a multiplicity of cultures, from the custody of creation threatened by the climate crisis, to closeness and support for young and minority Churches (except in tiny East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, back from the war of independence from Indonesia, which with 98% of the population has the largest share of Catholics in the world). Indonesia, on the other hand, is the country with the largest number of Muslims on the planet.
First stage Jakarta
The Pope left on the afternoon of 2 September at 5.15pm from Fiumicino airport for Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, where he will land at 11.30am on 3 September local time (6.30am in Italy). After the welcome at the airport by the Minister for Religious Affairs, the Pope will move to the Nunciature where he will meet a group of poor, homeless, refugees.
