Vatican City, Sep 2, 2024 / 08:18 am (CNA).
Pope Francis departed Rome on Monday to commence his 45th apostolic journey, one that will take him to Southeast Asia and Oceania over the course of nearly two weeks.
During his 11-day journey – the longest trip of his papacy to date – the 87-year-old pontiff will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste (East Timor) and Singapore from Sept. 2-13.
Prior to commencing his trip, the pope paid a visit to Salus Populi Romani (the Byzantine icon depicting the Blessed Virgin as the health and protector of the Roman people) at the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Sunday to entrust his journey to the Mother of God.
On Sept. 3, the Holy Father will first land in Jakarta, Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, to promote religious harmony and interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims in the country.
During his visit the pope will meet with Catholic bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters, seminarians and catechists at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in the Archdiocese of Jakarta.
Francis will also meet with the country’s President Joko Widodo on Sept. 4 and deliver a speech to political leaders at the Istana Merdeka Presidential Palace.
The Holy Father will also participate in an interreligious meeting at Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, located directly opposite the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption.
Following Indonesia, the pope will travel to Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea, on Sept. 6. Approximately 4 million Catholics live in the country, representing the largest denomination in the majority-Christian nation.
The pope will meet with the country’s civil and religious leaders as well as visit a number of communities involved with Catholic ministries aimed at promoting the spiritual and social welfare for the people of the Oceania nation.
The motto chosen by the bishops of Papua New Guinea for Pope Francis’ apostolic visit – the second papal visit in the country’s young history – is “Pray,” inspired by the passage in the Gospel of Luke “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk 11:1).
From Sept. 9-11, the Holy Father will visit Timor-Leste (East Timor) and meet with Catholic leaders and faithful at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the country’s capital, Dili. The Holy Father will also meet with the country’s leaders and deliver a speech at the Presidential Palace.
The pontiff will also preside over Mass in Esplanade of Tasitolu which is expected to attract the attendance of thousands of Catholics from around the country.
Pope Francis’ visit will mark the first visit by a pontiff to the 97%-majority Catholic country.
Singapore is the last country in the pope’s itinerary of his apostolic journey to Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Between Sept. 11-13, Pope Francis will meet with both civil and religious leaders in the Asian city-nation before presiding over the Holy Mass at the National Stadium.
The elderly, sick and the youth are a priority for the Holy Father in his first visit to Singapore.
He will visit residents of Saint Theresa’s Home, a nursing home founded by the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1935, as well as participate in a youth-led interreligious meeting at Catholic Junior College before returning to Rome at the conclusion of the journey.
On Monday, meanwhile, Vatican News reported that Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin would not be leaving with the pope on his Monday flight due to the death of the prelate’s mother, Ada, who died on Aug. 31.
Parolin will celebrate the funeral of his mother in Schiavon, in the Italian province of Vicenza, on Sept. 3.
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The visit with Cardinal Goh of Singapore offers exceptional promise. Below are two incisive selections from an interview in April: https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2024/05/03/cardinal-goh-of-singapore-deep-encounter-with-jesus-is-key-to-passing-on-the-faith/
“But I don’t believe that we should try to compromise the Gospel. And that is my fear: that, today, even Church leaders are compromising the Gospel [!]. I don’t think Jesus ever compromised the Gospel, even for the adulterous woman. He says, ‘I do not judge you, I do not condemn you, but please sin no more.’ I think that has to be mentioned. This is where the importance of truthfulness, mercy, and compassion [comes in].”
“…as has often been said, or some bishops are suggesting, perhaps there should be another level where it is really a Synod of Bishops [!], after hearing the laypeople, after journeying with them; there should be that level of bishop synods, where the bishops can come together, because that synod [with laity] cannot really be considered a theological dogmatic synod, because not all are theologically trained.”
Peter, ah, please! What gift did the Pontif give to Cardinal Goh? Let us hope it was not a Rupnik work of so called art. How can we take any of these things seriously as long as they expect us to develop amnesia whenever necessary. The Pontif can meet whoever he wants, but the stain of Rupnik is too obvious on his white outfit.
Nathan, ah, please! “What gift did the Pontif (sp.) give to Cardinal Goh?”
Gift? Their visit is not until later at the end of the tour, not at the beginning. But perhaps you have a belief in bilocation? Please submit your suggestion for consideration by the Synod that meets next month.
The CVs of the lay, especially women, Synod participants show they have been precisely selected since they are mostly theologically well trained with many of them doctors of different theological and biblical sciences on top of their impressive church leadership and pastoral ministry experiences. Then whataboutery here. Even on the part of bishops Synod participants not all of them have doctorates in theology.
The Pontiff Francis and “his royal court” continue their rebranding as a “queer-church” by officially removing Jesus from their calendar references, preferring “BCE” to “BC.”
No one can doubt who they desire communion with.
Behold:
https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2024/09/03/outrage-vatican-drops-before-christ-for-before-common-era/
His Holiness Pope Francis is an ambassador of the Good News. Wishing the Holy Father strength and stamina. SELAMAT DATANG DI INDONESIA.
I send prayers for the success of his mission trip – that there be many converts to Christ.
As Peter Beaulieu captures the key issue for Cardinal Goh, and the Church, the inviolability of the Gospels, the Cardinal is likely struggling with a question of specificity, “My fear: that, today, even Church leaders are compromising the Gospel”. That is, Pope Francis’ inclusion among those Church leaders.
We can hope that Goh addresses this with him. Whether there’ll be a positive or negative response, Francis’ response can at least settle this issue for Catholics as a vocal commitment.