The Pope's Asia-Pacific tour is his most ambitious trip to date.
ROME/JAKARTA – Without announcement or fanfare, I looked up from my seat and there he was, in his trademark white cassock.
To the surprise and delight of those on board, the 87-year-old pontiff then walked down the aisle to greet everyone individually. Many had expected to see him in a wheelchair for most of the trip because of well-documented issues with his knee. The latest trip also saw three journalists each from Singapore, Indonesia and Timor-Leste among the Vatican-accredited media personnel – or VAMP among staff members – by virtue of us being from the countries the Pope will be visiting this time around.
This is not a moment for journalistic questions, however, he quickly interjected, sensing the room growing ever slightly more emboldened. “You can present yourself. Just a few words, and that’s it.” Also, wear dark colours and come in business casual.The encounter The patient pontiff continued to hold my hand and listen as I bungled the line. He gracefully defused the situation by remarking that I must have been trying to speakI had to mention Singapore, of course, remarking: “My Catholic friends in Singapore can’t wait to see you.”This will be the first time in 38 years that a Pope visits Singapore. Pope John Paul II was the first pontiff to visit the country back in 1986, when he stopped by for five hours, en route to Fiji.
Catholics I interviewed before my trip said interfaith dialogue is likely to be at front and centre of Pope Francis’ agenda. As a result, many inactive Catholics are now returning to their Christian faith, in what has been referred to in Church circles as the Francis effect, said Mr Kannangara.
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