Frail pope to embark on Asia trip, his longest ever, in September
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.