09-04-2024, 07:02 AM
He is 87 years old and in recent years has battled health difficulties and begun using a wheelchair. But Pope Francis is currently on the longest trip of his pontificate.
On Tuesday, he landed in Indonesia kicking off a marathon 12-day visit of four countries in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific which also includes Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
It is one of the longest foreign trips any pope has embarked on and marks the furthest geographical distance (32,814 kilometers or about 20,000 miles ) that Francis has traveled since his 2013 election. And on arrival in Jakarta, Pope Francis commented that the more than 13 hour flight over was the longest he has yet done.
The landmark visit will allow this pope to highlight key themes of his pontificate, including inter-religious dialogue and protection of the environment.
The trip also underscores a significant shift taking place inside the Catholic Church: its tilt to Asia.
On Tuesday, he landed in Indonesia kicking off a marathon 12-day visit of four countries in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific which also includes Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
It is one of the longest foreign trips any pope has embarked on and marks the furthest geographical distance (32,814 kilometers or about 20,000 miles ) that Francis has traveled since his 2013 election. And on arrival in Jakarta, Pope Francis commented that the more than 13 hour flight over was the longest he has yet done.
The landmark visit will allow this pope to highlight key themes of his pontificate, including inter-religious dialogue and protection of the environment.
The trip also underscores a significant shift taking place inside the Catholic Church: its tilt to Asia.
