– In 1940, Belgium’s King Leopold surrendered to the invading Germans in World War Two, and the evacuation of defeated Allied armies from Dunkirk began, saving a total of 224,585 British and 112,546 French and Belgian troops.
Pope Francis will embark on his longest overseas trip to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore from Sept. 2-13. Despite health concerns, he plans to visit these countries in Asia and Oceania, with Vietnam not included as a possible destination. The pope has been dealing with health issues like a cold, bronchitis, influenza, and a knee ailment that require him to use a wheelchair or cane. His agenda also includes day trips in Italy and a visit to Belgium in the second half of September. Pope Francis, the first pope from the Global South, has made connecting with Asia a priority, including working on a controversial deal with China on bishop appointments. Indonesia, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, and Singapore have significant Catholic populations.
Pope Francis is planning to visit Indonesia, Singapore, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and possibly Vietnam in early September, according to the Vatican’s foreign minister. The trip to Indonesia would be one of the most taxing for Francis, who is 87 years old and has had recent health issues. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation, with about 8 million Catholics representing around 3% of the total population.
Pope Francis soldiered through a more than 2-hour Easter Vigil Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, despite concerns about his frail condition. He read all of his prepared texts, including a long homily, and smiled and waved at the congregation as he left in a wheelchair. The pope has been struggling with colds, bronchitis, and the flu, as well as a knee ailment that limits his mobility. He urged Christians to keep their faith even in times of adversity during the service.