BANGKOK (AP) — Pope Francis has wrapped up his longest and most challenging trip ever, which took the 87-year-old pontiff more than 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) by air to four countries in the Asia-Pacific from Sept. 2 to 13.
He visited the country with the world's largest Muslim population — Indonesia, with about 242 million — and the country with the highest percentage of Catholics outside the Vatican itself — East Timor, with some 98%.
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BANGKOK (AP) — Pope Francis has wrapped up his longest and most challenging trip ever, which took the 87-year-old pontiff more than 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) by air to four countries in the Asia-Pacific from Sept. 2 to 13.
Pope Francis leaves after leading a holy mass at Tasitolu park in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Faithful react as they watch the live screening of the holy mass lead by Pope Francis, outside the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Pope Francis attends a welcome ceremony at the Parliament House in Singapore, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A faithful attends the holy mass lead by Pope Francis at Tasitolu park in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool)
Pope Francis is helped by his aide Archbishop Diego Ravelli, right, as he arrives on the altar to preside over a votive mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen in Tasitolu, some 8 kilometers west of Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A man kneels before Pope Francis as he is farewelled at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana,Pool)
A girl reacts as Pope Francis arrives at Madya Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Pope Francis interacts with the young people of Scholas Occurrentes at Grha Pemuda Youth Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, Pool)
Faithful wait for Pope Francis to arrive at a meeting with faithful in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
People pray during a Sunday mass ahead of Pope Francis' visit to East Timor, at a church in Dili, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Pope Francis, talks with Father Martin Prado, a missionary of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, left, during a meeting with faithful in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The faithful follow Pope Francis presiding over a mass at the Singapore SportsHub National Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis is greeted as he arrives at the Jakarta Cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba /Pool Photo via AP)
Pope Francis gestures to attendees after presiding over a holy mass at the SportsHub National Stadium in Singapore, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
The holy communion is given to the faithful during a mass at the Singapore SportsHub National Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis arrives at the Holy Trinity Humanistic School in Baro, near Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A nun waits for the arrival of Pope Francis in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis waves as he leaves Caritas Technical Secondary School in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
People try to film Pope Francis with their mobile phones through a fence in Dili, East Timor, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Medical workers carry a person waiting to attend a Holy Mass that will be presided by Pope Francis at the Esplanade of Taci Tolu in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept.10, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
Pope Francis is welcomed by the President of East Timor Episcopal Conference Norberto do Amaral, third from left, as he arrives at a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians and catechists in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
An aide brings a wheelchair for Pope Francis after he gave an address in the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Pope Francis, second left, sits for a meeting with young people in the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
People react as Pope Francis arrives at Madya Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A woman stands as Pope Francis gives an address during a meeting in the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Pope Francis leads a holy mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)
A woman has her photo taken with a Pope Francis backdrop ahead of the holy Mass led by the pope at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
The Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar, left, bids farewell to Pope Francis, as he leaves after signing the "Joint Declaration of Istiqlal 2024" at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A man with an image of Jesus Christ tattooed on his arm attends a Sunday mass ahead of Pope Francis' visit to East Timor, at a church in Dili, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Pope Francis greets people at the Presidential Palace in Dili, East Timor, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
People wait for Pope Francis visiting to children with disabilities of the Irmas Alma School in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Pope Francis meets with people in traditional attire after giving an address during a meeting with young people in the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Pope Francis wears a traditional hat during a meeting with faithful in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. . (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis consoles a person during a visit at the 'Irmas ALMA' (Sisters of the Association of Lay Missionaries) School for Children with Disabilities in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis is welcomed by Indonesia's Minister for Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, center, soon after landing at Jakarta's International airport Soekarno Hatta, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
East Timorese crowd Tasitolu park for Pope Francis' Mass in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
He visited two of the world's poorest countries — Papua New Guinea and East Timor — and one of its richest — Singapore.
By days and distance, it was one of the longest papal trips ever as Francis sought to reinforce the importance that Asia has to the Catholic Church. It is one of the few places where the church is growing in terms of baptized faithful and religious vocations.
The crowds he drew did not disappoint, with Francis celebrating Mass for about 100,000 people in both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, 50,000 in Singapore and 600,000 in East Timor -- nearly half the country's population.
Francis used the trip to highlight some of his core priorities as pope, including an emphasis on interreligious and intercultural dialogue, care for the environment and insistence on the spiritual component of economic development.
In Indonesia, he urged the country to live up to its promise of “harmony in diversity” and fight religious intolerance in a visit that included meetings with outgoing President Joko Widodo and President-elect Prabowo Subianto. He greeted Catholic priests, nuns and seminarians at Jakarta’s main cathedral.
After a meeting with the grand imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia's largest, the two issued a joint call to fight religiously inspired violence and protect the environment.
In Papua New Guinea, Francis traveled to the remote city of Vanimo, in the jungles of the extreme northwest, bringing with him about a ton of medicine, clothing, musical instruments and toys to donate.
He was greeted by some 20,000 people singing and dancing on the field in front of the Vanimo cathedral, where he donned a feathered headdress presented to him.
In remarks to the crowd, he urged members of the community to come together to overcome rivalries, a reference to the tribal violence that has grown more lethal in the country in recent years.
Overwhelmingly Catholic East Timor greeted Francis with huge crowds, with people jamming his motorcade route from the airport into town cheering as he smiled broadly and waved from his open-backed pickup truck. Nearly half the country showed up for him to celebrate Mass.
In remarks he emphasized that “we are all called to do everything possible to prevent every kind of abuse,” an apparent reference to a scandal involving Timorese Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo.
Belo was sanctioned in 2020 by the Vatican for sexually abusing young boys, but to this day is still regarded as a hero by many for his efforts in supporting East Timor’s bloody struggle for independence.
As he wrapped up his visit in Singapore, Francis marveled at the modern city's skyscrapers, while urging authorities not to forget the workers who built them and to make sure to look out for the poorest of society.
He concluded his visit with the same message of tolerance that he delivered at the start, telling a group of young people that those of different faiths need to engage in constructive dialogue rather than insist on the righteousness of their own beliefs.
“All religions are a path to arrive at God,” Francis told the group. “They are like different languages to arrive there. But God is God for all.”
Airport staff wave to an airplane with Pope Francis aboard at Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, East Timor, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Pope Francis leaves after leading a holy mass at Tasitolu park in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
Faithful react as they watch the live screening of the holy mass lead by Pope Francis, outside the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Pope Francis attends a welcome ceremony at the Parliament House in Singapore, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A faithful attends the holy mass lead by Pope Francis at Tasitolu park in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool)
Pope Francis is helped by his aide Archbishop Diego Ravelli, right, as he arrives on the altar to preside over a votive mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen in Tasitolu, some 8 kilometers west of Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A man kneels before Pope Francis as he is farewelled at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana,Pool)
A girl reacts as Pope Francis arrives at Madya Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Pope Francis interacts with the young people of Scholas Occurrentes at Grha Pemuda Youth Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, Pool)
Faithful wait for Pope Francis to arrive at a meeting with faithful in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
People pray during a Sunday mass ahead of Pope Francis' visit to East Timor, at a church in Dili, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Pope Francis, talks with Father Martin Prado, a missionary of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, left, during a meeting with faithful in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The faithful follow Pope Francis presiding over a mass at the Singapore SportsHub National Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis is greeted as he arrives at the Jakarta Cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba /Pool Photo via AP)
Pope Francis gestures to attendees after presiding over a holy mass at the SportsHub National Stadium in Singapore, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
The holy communion is given to the faithful during a mass at the Singapore SportsHub National Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis arrives at the Holy Trinity Humanistic School in Baro, near Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A nun waits for the arrival of Pope Francis in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis waves as he leaves Caritas Technical Secondary School in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
People try to film Pope Francis with their mobile phones through a fence in Dili, East Timor, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Medical workers carry a person waiting to attend a Holy Mass that will be presided by Pope Francis at the Esplanade of Taci Tolu in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept.10, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
Pope Francis is welcomed by the President of East Timor Episcopal Conference Norberto do Amaral, third from left, as he arrives at a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians and catechists in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
An aide brings a wheelchair for Pope Francis after he gave an address in the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Pope Francis, second left, sits for a meeting with young people in the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
People react as Pope Francis arrives at Madya Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A woman stands as Pope Francis gives an address during a meeting in the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Pope Francis leads a holy mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)
A woman has her photo taken with a Pope Francis backdrop ahead of the holy Mass led by the pope at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
The Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar, left, bids farewell to Pope Francis, as he leaves after signing the "Joint Declaration of Istiqlal 2024" at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A man with an image of Jesus Christ tattooed on his arm attends a Sunday mass ahead of Pope Francis' visit to East Timor, at a church in Dili, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Pope Francis greets people at the Presidential Palace in Dili, East Timor, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
People wait for Pope Francis visiting to children with disabilities of the Irmas Alma School in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Pope Francis meets with people in traditional attire after giving an address during a meeting with young people in the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Pope Francis wears a traditional hat during a meeting with faithful in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. . (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis consoles a person during a visit at the 'Irmas ALMA' (Sisters of the Association of Lay Missionaries) School for Children with Disabilities in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis is welcomed by Indonesia's Minister for Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, center, soon after landing at Jakarta's International airport Soekarno Hatta, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
East Timorese crowd Tasitolu park for Pope Francis' Mass in Dili, East Timor, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
