Category Archives: Oceania

MUMBAI, India Pope Francis will visit three countries in Asia and one in Oceania, according to a Vatican statement released on Friday.

Francis is scheduled to leave Rome on September 2 and return to the Vatican on September 13.

He travels first to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where he will land on September 3 and leave September 6. He will then travel to Papua New Guinea, visiting on September 6-9.

From September 9-11 he will be in Timor-Leste, before ending his Asia trip in Singapore.

There is a large variety of Catholic populations in these countries. Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, and Catholics number over 8 million, or 3.1 percent of the population.

Papua New Guinea has a population of around 2 million, or 32 percent, while Timor-Este is 96 percent Catholic, over 1 million people. Singapore has 395,000 Catholics, around 3 percent of the population.

Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta said the news that Francis will be visiting Indonesia was received very enthusiastically, not only by Catholics.

The first announcement was given by the Minister of Religious Affairs. And during an interreligious meeting during the month of Ramadhan, the Great Imam of the State Mosque Istiqlal also announced the coming visit for the second time, the cardinal told Crux.

For several reasons the President of the Bishops Conference of Indonesia formally announced the coming visit only on the Feast of Annunciation, April 8, 2024, he said.

Actually, Pope Francis had decided to visit Indonesia in 2020, but then arrived the unexpected COVID-19, Suharyo said.

We ask our people to pray much for this visit planned in the first week of September, especially for the health of Pope Francis, the cardinal continued.

We also urge our faithful to prepare well the visit by deepening the messages of Pope Francis given in different encyclical letters and Apostolic Exhortation such as, Laudato Si, Fratelli Tutti, Evangelii Gaudium, and Gaudete et Exultate on the call to holiness in todays world, he said.

Suharyo said the motto of the visit to Indonesia will be: Faith, Brother-Sisterhood, Compassion.

Archbishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin of Merauke, the President of the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI), said the visit of Francis will give us, the Church and the nation the positive impact because the Holy Father is not only the Shepherd of the Catholic Church but also the Father of humanity bringing peace and offering mercy.

Of course, the visit of the Holy Father is a blessing for the Church and the country, he said.

May this visit be a moral and spiritual encouragement for us all to live out the values of Pancasila that are in line with Christian value. May this visit strengthen our sense of fratelli tutti, the archbishop said.

the Archbishop of Singapore, Cardinal William Goh, also welcomed the popes upcoming visit.

It has been 38 years since we had a visit from the Vicar of Christ to Singapore, when Pope St. John Paul II honored us with a visit on 20 November 1986, the cardinal said in a statement.

It is my hope that this visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, will bring renewed fervor to all Catholics in Singapore, uniting them in faith and mission, especially in these most challenging of times, he said.

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Pope Francis to visit Asia and Oceania in September - Crux Now

Explore new horizons and set sail beyond the ordinary on more than 130 immersive itineraries spanning Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, South America and the South Pacific

MIAMI, April 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, has revealed its 2025-2026 Tropics and Exotics Collection, which is available for preview online at OceaniaCruises.com and opens for sale on April 17, 2024.

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"Our new Tropics and Exotics Collection is one of our most exciting yet, featuring a heady mix of iconic cities, remote islands and hidden gems to discover for the very first time," commented Frank A Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. "With various voyages allowing guests to explore a region for weeks or months at a time, and several new overnight port stays, the collection offers a wealth of opportunities for our guests to explore further than ever before, savoring the many flavors of the world and enjoying uniquely curated experiences ashore in these exotic and tropical regions."

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About Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's eight small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests and feature The Finest Cuisine at Sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences are available aboard the designer-inspired, small ships, which call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on seven continents, on voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days. Oceania Cruises is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visitwww.nclhltd.com.

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Oceania Cruises Announces New 2025-2026 Tropics and Exotics Collection - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Pope Francis will make an Apostolic Journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore on September 2-13, 2024.

By Devin Watkins

The Holy See Press Office announced on Friday that Pope Francis will visit three nations in Asia and one in Oceania in early September.

He accepted the invitation of the Heads of State and local Church authorities to make what will be his 45th Apostolic Journey abroad.

The Pope is scheduled to depart Rome on September 2 and return on September 13.

He travels first to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where he will land on September 3 and remain until September 6.

Pope Francis will then fly east to visit Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, and Vanimo on September 6-9.

His next stop will be in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, on September 9-11.

From there, the Pope will travel to Singapore for a 3-day visit on September 11-13.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the full programme of his Apostolic Journey will be published at a later date.

Pope Francis first mentioned the possibility of traveling to the region in December 2023.

In an interview with the Mexican broadcaster N+, he said he hoped to travel to Polynesia in August and to his native Argentina later in the year.

Then, in January 2024, the Pope told an interviewer with the Italian newspaper La Stampa that he would visit Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.

Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, and Catholics number over 8 million, or 3.1 percent of the population.

Around 32 percent of Papua New Guineas population are Catholic, numbering around 2 million.

Timor-Leste is overwhelmingly Catholic, accounting for around 96 percent of the population, counting over 1 million people.

Some 395,000 Catholics live in Singapore, representing around 3 percent of the population.

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Pope Francis to visit 4 nations across Asia and Oceania in September - Vatican News

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore from Sept. 2 to 13.

The news came in a statement from Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy Sees press office, who said the pope will undertake an Apostolic Journey to these four countries at the invitation of the respective Heads of State and Church Authorities.

It will be Francis 45th foreign trip since becoming pope on March 13, 2013, and the longest he has undertaken to datea total of 12 days. He has already visited 61 countries.

This would be a demanding trip, even for a younger man. Francis turned 87 in December and has had mobility issues in recent years, but he is determined to travel.

Mr. Bruni only gave a basic outline of the papal journey and said a more detailed program would be provided later.

Pope Francis will visit Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia with a population of around 11 million people, Sept. 3 to 6. Indonesia is a country of almost 280 million people with the largest Muslim population in the world. There are more than eight million Catholics in the country. He will be the third pope to visit the country. Paul VI went there in 1970; John Paul II went there in 1989 and also visited Dili in Timor-Leste, then under Indonesian occupation.

From Jakarta, he will travel to Papua New Guinea, a country in Oceania with a population of 10.5 million people, 32 percent of whom are Catholic. He will stay there from Sept. 6 to 9 and visit two cities: Port Moresby, the capital, and Vanimo, a city in the north-westernmost part of Papua New Guinea on a peninsula close to the Indonesian border. He will be the second pope to visit Papua New Guinea after John Paul II, who traveled there in 1984.

He will fly from there to Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, from Sept. 9 to 11. Timor-Leste is the most Catholic country in Asia97 percent of its 1.4 million population is Catholic, and the people there have long wanted Francis to visit. He will be the first pope to travel to the country since it gained independence in 2002.

He will conclude this long journey with a visit to Singapore, an island country and city-state in southeast Asia, from Sept. 11 to 13. Singapore has a population of six million people, of whom around 395,000 are Catholic, about 3 percent of the population. He will be the second pope to visit there; John Paul II visited in 1986.

Francis has looked especially to Asia since the beginning of his pontificate. Following in the footsteps of the first Jesuits, he identified the continent, where two-thirds of humanity lives, as a priority for evangelization, a part of the world that could offer a new springtime to the church. He has already made five journeys to Asia. The countries he has visited to date include South Korea (2014); Sri Lanka and the Philippines (2015); Myanmar and Bangladesh (2017); Thailand and Japan (2019); Kazakhstan (2022); and Mongolia (2023).

Vietnam is not listed among the countries that Francis will visit on this trip to Asia and Oceania, though he has received an invitation from the president of the country and from its bishops conference, but it is known that Francis wants to go there, too, and some sources think he could do so in 2025.

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Pope Francis will head to Asia and Oceania in September for his longest foreign trip yet - America: The Jesuit Review

Oceania Cruises has unveiled its 2025-2026 Tropics and Exotics Collection!

The 2025-2026 collection features 135 itineraries across five continents, lasting seven to 180 days. This includes Vistas inaugural Around The World Voyage. With stops at 329 ports, guests can explore fascinating and exotic destinations worldwide.

Our new Tropics and Exotics Collection is one of our most exciting yet, featuring a heady mix of iconic cities, remote islands and hidden gems to discover for the very first time, commented Frank A Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. With various voyages allowing guests to explore a region for weeks or months at a time, and several new overnight port stays, the collection offers a wealth of opportunities for our guests to explore further than ever before, savoring the many flavors of the world and enjoying uniquely curated experiences ashore in these exotic and tropical regions.

Over 90 sailings offer overnight stays in ports such as Panama City, Bali, and Melbourne, as well as new destinations like Willemstad, Curacao, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Port Louis, Mauritius. 40 Grand Voyages allow travelers to journey across continents, exploring regions like Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America aboard Oceania Cruises small ships. Specific region-focused voyages include South America, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand itineraries.

RELATED: GIADA DE LAURENTIIS NAMED BRAND AND CULINARY AMBASSADOR FOR OCEANIA CRUISES

Asia Odysseys: Regatta explores Japan and Southeast Asia with multiple overnight stays in 12 to 16-day sailings. Riviera offers additional voyages in these regions, while Sirenas lineup includes 10 to 24-day sailings in Southeast Asia, Japan, India, and China, as well as a 25-day Africa voyage and two South Pacific sailings.

Oceania Discoveries: Riviera offers 14 to 22-day sailings in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, concluding with a Bering Sea crossing to Alaska.

Africa Adventures: Nautica offers five voyages ranging from 11 to 30 days, focusing on Africas wonders.

Panama Canal & Caribbean Retreats: Insignia explores the Caribbean and Panama Canal, with Tampa as a new embarkation port. Allura, launching in the summer of 2025, offers island sailings in the Caribbean with nine voyages ranging from seven to 14 days.

South America Explorations: Marina explores South Americas landscapes, heritage, and natural beauty in six sailings ranging from 10 to 24 days, before crossing to the Mediterranean.

Vistas Around the World Journey: Vista embarks on its first Around the World Journey in 2026, exploring South America, Australia, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

Unique Overnight Stays: Over 90 voyages include overnight stays in destinations like Panama, Bali, Australia, Willemstad, Curacao, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Port Louis, Mauritius. Enjoy immersive experiences in these diverse ports.

Head to the Oceania Cruises website for more information!

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Oceania Cruises Announces New Tropics and Exotics Collection for 2025-2026 - Porthole Cruise and Travel

Pope Francis will be visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore from September 2 to 13, 2024.

Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore from September 2 to 13, announced Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office on April 12, 2024. This 45th trip outside Italy since 2013 will be the longest of Francis pontificate, and his first trip to Oceania.

The 87-year-old Pontiff is due to leave Rome on September 2 to arrive in Jakarta the following day, September 3. He will remain in the Indonesian capital until September 6, before heading for the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, on the same day. The Pontiff will remain in this country in Oceania until September 9. Other than the capital city he is expected to visit also Vanimo, a small town on the Pacific coast in the far north of the country.

On September 9, he will reach Dili, capital of the small Asian island state of East Timor. He will remain in this predominantly Catholic country until September 11, before traveling to the city-state of Singapore on the same day. He will remain there until September 13, when he will return to Rome. The full program for this major tour will be published at a later date.

Originally scheduled for September 2020, this trip was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Subsequently, Pope Francis has repeatedly stated his intention to keep his promise to visit these countries.

The four countries that Francis will visit have already received papal visits: John Paul II visited Indonesia and East Timor (at the time occupied by Indonesia) in 1989, Papua New Guinea in 1984 and 1995, and Singapore in 1986. Paul VI also visited Indonesia on his last trip in 1970.

This will be the longest trip of Francis pontificate, as he will be outside of Rome for 12 days. His longest trip before this was to Cuba and the USA in 2015, where he spent 10 days outside of the Vatican. With this trip the Argentine Pontiff comes close to John Paul II, who spent a total of 13 days in Canada in 1984.

By going to Port Moresby this will also be the Pontiffs furthest trip, as the Papuan capital is over 14,000 km (around 8,700 miles) from the Vatican, compared with just under 12,000 km (around 7,456 miles) for the previous record, Santiago de Chile, in 2018.

The trip does not include a stopover in Vietnam, which has never been visited before by a pope. Some statements had suggested in recent months that Vietnam could be included, despite its difficult diplomatic situation with the Vatican. In a video published on April 8, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of Jakarta, stated that the trip could perhaps include a stopover in Vietnam.

This statement echoed a similar assertion made by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vaticans Foreign Minister, in an interview with the Jesuit media outlet America last March. Archbishop Gallagher is currently visiting Vietnam, with which the Holy See does not have official diplomatic relations, but with which it has recently become much closer.

Given the length of the trip, the central question will be whether the 87-year-old Pope will be in good physical condition to travel. He recently has been suffering from respiratory difficulties, causing him to not be able to read speeches at certain moments or having to cancel his attendance at certain events, such as the Stations of the Cross on Holy Friday, March 29.

In December 2023, the Pontiff had to cancel a planned trip to Dubai, where he was due to attend the United Nations conference on climate change, due to the state of his health.

Follow the Popes health here.

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Pope will take his longest trip: to Asia-Oceania in September - Aleteia

The latest team to fall victim to the Korean sweep was Pacific Oceania. Kim Dabin and Park Sohyun scored comfortable wins in singles before the same pair notched a third win in the doubles match.

The Koreans currently sit in first place thanks to their perfect 9-0 match win-loss record but they have yet to face the other undefeated side - hosts China.

The Chinese team might have dropped one doubles match (against Chinese Taipei) but they still look like a formidable force in this year's Group I event.

On Thursday, China were even able to rest their top-ranked player, Qinwen Zheng, and still came out on top 3-0 against New Zealand.

Despite their best efforts, New Zealand couldn't give birthday girl Erin Routliffe the perfect present as she and Lulu Sun fell 14-12 in a match tie break against Guo Hanyu and Wang Xinyu.

India remain in the hunt for a promotion place after defeating Chinese Taipei 2-1 on Thursday, but they will need one of Korea, Rep or China to lose both their remaining ties if they are to have any chance of progressing.

With India scheduled to play Korea, Rep on Friday, the outcome of that tie will prove pivotal to which teams progress.

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Asia/Oceania I: Korea, Republic maintain perfect record with another 3-0 win - Billie Jean King Cup

Park Sohyun of South Korea hits a return during the women's singles match against Wang Xiyu of China at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (L)/Guo Hanyu of China react during the women's doubles match against Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Guo Hanyu, Wang Xinyu ,coach Liu Feng, Wang Xiyu and Zhu Lin (from L to R) of China pose for photos after the Group I match between China and South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (L)/Guo Hanyu of China celebrate after the women's doubles match against Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (front, R)/Guo Hanyu (front, L) of China sign autographs for fans after the women's doubles match against Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Kim Dabin of South Korea hits a return during the women's singles match against Zhu Lin of China at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (front) of China takes selfies with spectators after the women's doubles match between Wang Xinyu/Guo Hanyu of China and Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Kim Dabin of South Korea serves during the women's singles match against Zhu Lin of China at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Zhu Lin (bottom) of China serves during the women's singles match against Kim Dabin of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xiyu of China hits a return during the women's singles match against Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Zhu Lin (R) of China shakes hands with Kim Dabin of South Korea after their women's singles match at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Wang Xinyu (R)/Guo Hanyu of China compete during the women's doubles match against Kim Dabin/Park Sohyun of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Zhu Lin of China hits a return during the women's singles match against Kim Dabin of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Zhu Lin of China hits a return during the women's singles match against Kim Dabin of South Korea at the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania Group I match in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

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Highlights of Billie Jean King Cup 2024 tennis tournament Asia-Oceania - Xinhua

The Oceania Championships will take place in Taupo, New Zealand, this weekend and a star-studded field is due to compete for regional supremacy. The event will be the second of the five standard distance continental championships of 2024 and is shaping up to be incredibly tight.

Last years shock winner Bradley Course (AUS) is back to defend his title. Course achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Oceania junior, U23 and senior titles all in the same season in 2023. In doing so, he earned the uncommon right to start at both the Junior World Championships and the U23 World Championships. Now a year older, he will wear the number 1 in Taupo.

Should Course triumph again this season, he will have to do it the hard way. WTCS race winner Matthew Hauser (AUS) will be making his first start of the season and will be a formidable opponent. The fastest swimmer at last years WTCS Final in Pontevedra, Hauser will likely press his advantage in the first discipline.

The Australian team will also be represented by Brandon Copeland, Oscar Dart and Luke Bate. Former WTCS gold medallist Jacob Birtwhistle will be another to watch from the Australian team. He took the bronze medal at the Oceania Championships over the sprint distance earlier in the season and is the only male medallist from that event slated to start in Taupo.

As things stand, the second Australian male Olympic slot remains up in the air (Hauser locked in his place in Pontevedra). An eye-catching performance this weekend could therefore set one of those racing on the path to Paris.

From the home New Zealand team, Tayler Reid will have the dual objectives of claiming continental gold and furthering his own Olympic ambitions. He is currently locked in a fight to join Hayden Wilde on the New Zealand Olympic team.

Saxon Morgan and Janus Staufenberg will be two further men to watch from the home team. In addition, Benjamin Airey (NZL) will look to attempt a similar result to Course and add a senior continental medal to his recent bronze from the Oceania Junior Championships.

In the womens race, Jaz Hedgeland (AUS) will be the provisional favourite after winning the Oceania title over the sprint distance in March. She will wear number 1 this weekend. Her fellow medallists, Brea Roderick (NZL) and Tara Sosinski (AUS), will also be racing and so she will not have things all her own way. As the Oceania champion from 2021, though, Hedgeland has plenty of pedigree at the event.

Roderick will be joined by World Cup medallist Ainsley Thorpe (NZL) on the home team who will no doubt be a contender for the podium. Meanwhile, Sosinksi will start alongside the experienced Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS). Having made WTCS and World Cup podiums previously, Van Coevorden will fancy her chances of breaking into the medals in Taupo.

Furthermore, Van Coevorden will look to nail a place on the Australian Olympic team after missing out in Tokyo. Neither of the Australian berths have been officially claimed. As a result, the likes of Hedgeland, Van Coevorden, Sosinski and more will treat the Oceania Championships as a valuable chance to showcase their abilities.

A dramatic pair of races could therefore await in Taupo. Stay up to date with all the latest from Oceania across World Triathlon channels this weekend.

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Oceania Triathlon continental titles on the line in Taupo this weekend World Triathlon - World Triathlon

The Holy See has officially announced the long journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore. Card Goh of Singapore hopes the pope will bring to his predominantly Chinese city, renewed fervour to all Catholics [. . .], especially in these most challenging of times. It will also be the first time a pontiff visits Dili since independence. For Card Carmo da Silva, the Holy Father comes to strengthen Timor-Lestes Church in the faith and love of Christ.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis will undertake a long trip to Asia and Oceania at the end of the summer. The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, issued an official statement to that effect, indicating dates and locations.

Back in January, the Government of Papua New Guinea had leaked some details about the trip while a few days ago, the bishops of Indonesia announced that the pope would visit their country.

Accepting the invitation of the respective Heads of State and Church Authorities, reads the press release signed by the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, Pope Francis will undertake an Apostolic Journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore from 2 to 13 September. He will visit Jakarta from 3 to 6 September, Port Moresby and Vanimo from 6 to 9 September, Dili from 9 to 11 September and Singapore from 11 to 13 September.

As is customary, the detailed schedule of each stop will be published in due course. Despite the popes recent health issues, this long and demanding 12-day journey confirms once again Pope Francis's great consideration for Asia.

The pontiff had been scheduled to visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste in 2020, but was forced to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This time, Singapore was added. Like Mongolia last year, the great crossroads of Southeast Asia is another privileged place to speak and reach out to the Chinese and the Sinic world, given that three quarters of the city-states population is ethnic Chinese.

Vietnam is not on the popes travel list this time. Improving relations in the recent past between Hanoi and the Holy See and the great desire of Vietnamese Catholics to welcome the pontiff's visit had raised hopes.

For Pope Francis, the planned journey was already very challenging. The sudden departure of President V Vn Thng, who had issued an official invitation to Pope Francis in December, probably weighed heavily on the decision not to include Vietnam this time.

Nevertheless, as the recent visit to Vietnam by Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher shows, the door for a papal visit appears to be still open and the trip is probably only postponed.

The Catholic Church in the countries the pontiff will visit issued statements confirming the papal trip in September. The Archdiocese of Singapore has already launched a website dedicated to the event.

"It has been 38 years since we had a visit from the Vicar of Christ to Singapore, when Pope St John Paul II honoured us with a visit on 20 November 1986, writes Archbishop William Goh in a statement.

It is my hope that this visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, will bring renewed fervour to all Catholics in Singapore, uniting them in faith and mission, especially in these most challenging of times, added the prelate, who was elevated to the cardinalship by Pope Francis himself.

Along with official state engagements, the archdiocese expects that the highlight of Pope Franciss stop in the Southeast Asian city-state will be a major Eucharistic celebration, likely on 12 September.

In Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, the Bishops Conference made the official announcement today in a press conference attended by Card Virgilio do Carmo da Silva and the Apostolic Nuncio, Rev Mgr Marco Sprizzi.

Franciss arrival will be a very important moment for the country (one of two Asian countries with a Catholic majority; the other one is the Philippines) which obtained its independence only in 2002, after much bloodshed and suffering.

John Paul II had already made a stop in Dili in 1989, when Timor-Leste was still a province of Indonesia, but was demanding its independence.

The Archbishop of Dili expressed the joy of the local Church for the September date, hoping the Timorese can participate and be together with the Holy Father,who comesmainly to meet them and strengthen Timor-Lestes Church in the faith and love of Christ.

[L]et us prepare ourselves with an intense prayer to welcome the Holy Father," added the secretary of the Timor-Leste Bishops' Conference, Fr Carlos Miguel Pereira, so that his visit will be the moment in which we reinvigorate our participation in building our ecclesial and civil community, in living our faith, and purifying our culture.

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VATICAN Pope Francis will be in Southeast Asia and Oceania from 2 to 13 September - AsiaNews