Pope Francis embarked on the next leg of his extensive Southeast Asia and Oceania tour, departing Indonesia for Papua New Guinea on September 6, 2024. The 87-year-old pontiff's journey, spanning 12 days, aims to address crucial issues such as religious harmony and climate change in the region.
The papal entourage boarded a Garuda Indonesia aircraft, leaving Jakarta for Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea's capital. This flight marks a significant portion of the Pope's longest overseas trip to date, covering approximately 16,000 kilometers thus far.
During his three-night stay in Papua New Guinea, Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the northwestern town of Vanimo. The country, known for its linguistic diversity with over 800 indigenous languages, anticipates the Pope's address to political leaders on September 7.
In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, the Pope emphasized the importance of guarding against religious extremism. He visited the Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia's largest, accommodating up to 200,000 worshippers. There, he signed a joint declaration with the national grand imam, calling for "decisive action" on climate change.
Climate concerns are expected to remain at the forefront of the Pope's agenda in Papua New Guinea, where recent natural disasters have been attributed to global warming. In March 2024, a devastating landslide claimed at least 2,000 lives, underscoring the urgency of addressing environmental issues.
"We must act now to protect our common home. The effects of climate change are not just environmental, but deeply human, affecting the most vulnerable among us."
Pope Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, has consistently emphasized environmental stewardship throughout his 11-year papacy. His tour includes upcoming visits to East Timor, one of the world's youngest nations, and Singapore, known for its religious diversity.
The Pope's journey highlights the Catholic Church's global reach, operating over 1.5 million schools worldwide and educating more than 60 million students. It also underscores the Vatican's diplomatic role, with the Pope traversing from the world's largest archipelagic state, Indonesia, to the Pacific "Ring of Fire" region of Papua New Guinea.
As Pope Francis continues his tour, set to conclude on September 13, 2024, in Rome, he will have traveled nearly 33,000 kilometers. This remarkable journey not only demonstrates the Pope's commitment to global outreach but also shines a spotlight on the pressing issues facing Southeast Asia and Oceania in the 21st century.