Pope Francis is heading on a 12-day visit of the Asia-Pacific region.
Pope Francis is about to set off on the longest and most difficult trip of his pontificate —a 12-day visit to the Asia-Pacific region . He will travel more than 20,000 miles by flight during the tour, passing through Singapore , Indonesia , Papua New Guinea , and East Timor. Rescheduled from its original 2020 schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic, the visit is perceived as an acknowledgment of Asia's significance as one of the few regions where the Catholic church is experiencing growth in terms of baptized believers and religious vocations. Throughout the tour, Francis is expected to headline more than 40 events. Pope Francis is scheduled to travel to Indonesia, the nation with the largest Muslim population, where he will see the main mosque in Jakarta as well as the underground "Tunnel of Friendship" that connects it to the Catholic cathedral. In addition, he will celebrate a mass for over 80,000 people and meet Joko Widodo , the outgoing president of Indone...