Pope Francis departs Rome for 12-day tour across South-East Asia
Aboard the papal flight Reuters Pope Francis left Rome on Monday for Jakarta, where the 87-year-old leader of the global Catholic Church will start an ambitious 12-day tour to four countries in South-East Asia. The flight carrying the Pope and his entourage left Fiumicino airport for an overnight flight of more than 13 hours to […]
Papal journey: Pope Francis’ trip to South-East Asia will test his health and message
CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports that the 87-year-old Pope will visit a record number of countries in the longest trip of his pontificate…
Pope Francis, 87, takes climate message to South-East Asia on 12-day trip
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis leaves on Monday for a visit to four island nations across South-East Asia, an ambitious trip to urge global action on climate change that may test the strength of the 87-year-old head of the global Catholic Church. Over 12 days from 2nd to 13th September, Francis will travel nearly 33,000 […]
Vatican unveils program for Pope Francis’ trip to Belgium and Luxembourg in September
Rome, Italy AP The Vatican released on Friday the program for Pope Francis’ trip to Belgium and Luxembourg in late September, where he will celebrate Mass for the faithful, as well as meeting with religious and political authorities. During the four-day visit, on 26th to 29th September, he will also hold private talks with his […]
Pope to preside over interfaith meeting in Indonesian mosque during longest, most challenging trip
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis will preside over an interfaith meeting in a mosque in the world’s largest predominantly Muslim country during a four-nation Asian visit in September that will be the longest and most complicated foreign trip of his pontificate. The Vatican on Friday released the itinerary for Francis’ 2nd to 13th September trip to […]
Pope says he wants to visit Turkey for Council of Nicaea anniversary
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis said on Friday he wanted to visit Turkey next year to celebrate the anniversary of the first council of the Christian Church. “It’s a trip that I desire to go on, with all my heart,” the pontiff told a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Istanbul, a Vatican […]
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy dominates Asia security conference as China, Taiwan trade barbs
Singapore Reuters Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskiy’s unscheduled appearance at Asia’s biggest security conference dominated proceedings on Sunday after China’s defence chief slammed “separatists” in Taiwan, drawing a sharp response from the government in Taipei. Dressed in his trademark olive green T-shirt, Zelenskiy addressed the last day of the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore, asking for […]
Pope Francis to travel to Luxembourg and Belgium in September
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis will travel to Luxembourg and Belgium in late September, the Vatican said on Monday, confirming another international trip for the increasingly frail but still very active 87-year-old pontiff. Francis’ health has taken a turn for the worse recently. He has used a cane or a wheelchair since 2022 to move […]
Singapore to inaugurate new PM as Lee makes way after 20 years in charge
Singapore Reuters Singapore will inaugurate Lawrence Wong on Wednesday as its new Prime Minister and fourth leader since independence six decades ago, completing a carefully calibrated power transfer designed to guarantee continuity in the wealthy city-state. Wong, 51, comes from among a crop of so-called “4G” leaders, a new generation of politicians hand-picked by the […]
Pope will travel to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore in longest trip of papacy
Vatican City AP Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore in September, the Vatican announced Friday, confirming the longest trip of Francis’ papacy that is sure to test his health, stamina and mobility. The Vatican confirmed the 2nd to 13th September visit, saying the 87-year-old Pope would visit Jakarta, Indonesia; Port […]