Jakarta, Indonesia — Pope Francis appeared in good health and good humor Wednesday on the primary full day of what might be a marathon trip for the 87-year-old leader of the Catholic Church to Southeast Asia and Oceania. Over 12 days, Francis is scheduled to travel greater than 20,000 miles and visit 4 countries — Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
It is scheduled to be the longest and most difficult trip of Francis’ 11-year papacy. He has suffered health issues over the past few years and now uses a wheelchair.
The Vatican said no special precautions were being taken for this trip, but, as usual, Francis was traveling with a health care provider and two nurses.
Speaking with CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell in May, Francis said the concept of stepping down had never occurred to him, and he described his health as “nice” despite a recent bout with the flu and two rounds of intestinal surgery. The pope has also had just one full lung since undergoing surgery as a young man in Argentina, leaving him liable to respiratory illness.
In his first speech in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, Francis condemned religious extremism, saying it distorted religion by utilizing deception and violence.
“There are times when faith could be manipulated to foment divisions and increase hatred,” the pope told Indonesian politicians and spiritual leaders gathered on the presidential palace in Jakarta. He urged them to fight religious intolerance through dialogue.
“In this manner,” he said, “prejudices could be eliminated, and a climate of mutual respect and trust can grow.”
Religious freedom is protected by the Indonesian structure and the country prides itself on its diversity and tolerance, but Islamic fundamentalism has made inroads, and there have been incidents of spiritual violence lately.
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Francis also met Wednesday with Indonesian Catholic priests and nuns on the cathedral in Jakarta, offering words of encouragement and support.
On Thursday, Francis is scheduled to have fun mass in Jakarta with the country’s Catholics, a tiny but vibrant minority of barely 3% of the population. The Asia Pacific region is one in every of the few areas of the world where Catholicism is growing, each when it comes to baptized faithful and in vocations.
The pope can be expected to satisfy Thursday with Indonesia’s top Muslim leader, and the 2 will sign a joint declaration on humanitarian and environmental issues, and spiritual tolerance.
