7 facts about the countries that the Pope will visit on his trip through Asia and Oceania

Today, September 2, Pope Francis began the longest trip of his pontificate so far heading to Asia and Oceaniain which he will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore, until September 13.

During the apostolic trip, which includes numerous events in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, Indonesia, the Pope is expected to emphasize the themes of interreligious dialogue, solidarity and peace.

In the midst of this important milestone, here we present some interesting facts that you should know about the countries in Asia and Oceania that the Pope will visit:

1. Only 3% of the Indonesian population is Catholic

In Indonesia, Christians number just 29 million among the country’s more than 270 million inhabitants. Catholics number more than 8 million, representing 3.1% of the population. More than 87% of Indonesians declare themselves Muslims – around 242 million people – making it the country with the largest Muslim majority in the world.

Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, Archbishop of Jakarta—the country’s capital—has indicated that the Catholic community awaits the visit of Pope Francis “with great enthusiasm,” while calling on all Catholics “to deepen their knowledge of his teachings.” which are contained in the different encyclicals and apostolic exhortations of the Pontiff.

2. Catholicism was banned in Indonesia

Christianity arrived in Indonesia in the 7th centurybut it did not take root until the 16th century, when several Catholic missionaries who accompanied the Portuguese began to preach in the archipelago.

The Dutch, who expelled the Portuguese in 1605, introduced Calvinist Protestantism and Catholicism was prohibited in the territory until 1806.

Catholic missionaries were able to return to Indonesia in 1807, when the first Apostolic Prefecture was created in what was then Batavia (present-day Jakarta). The Catholic Church expanded its presence during the 19th and 20th centuries, when other missionaries from various religious congregations arrived.

3. Pope Francis is not the first pontiff to visit Papua New Guinea

Saint John Paul II visited Papua New Guinea for the first time in May 1984 and paid tribute to the strength of Catholicism on the island. During his visit, he celebrated Masses for vocations, the sick and evangelization. He also addressed the young people, the bishops, the clergy, the religious and the laity.

4. In Papua New Guinea a blessed man was born murdered in a concentration camp

Blessed Peter To Rot was not only a great catechist and father, but he is remembered for having been martyred at the age of 33 in a Japanese concentration camp during World War II, due to his defense of Catholic marriage and for opposing it. polygamy is reinstated.

To Rot has been a role model in the 21st century for the Catholic Church and that is why he was chosen as patron of the World Youth Day that was held in Sydney (Australia) in 2008.

The blessed was born in 1912 in Rakunai, Papua New Guinea, and is the first beatified native of that place.

5. The Catholic Church was important in the independence of East Timor

East Timor was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century and, although it declared its independence on November 28, 1975, the following month it was invaded by Indonesian forces, who stayed there until 1999.

Pope Saint John Paul II briefly visited the territory on October 12, 1989, within the framework of the 44th Apostolic Journey to the Far East and Mauritius (from October 6 to 16, 1989).

The visit brought international attention to the plight of the people of East Timor and the atrocities perpetrated by the Indonesian occupation army. These atrocities were repeatedly denounced by the three successive Apostolic Administrators of Dili, until the country achieved its independence in 2002.

6. Catholics suffered great persecution in Singapore

In World War II, during the Japanese occupation (1942-1945), the local Church suffered terrible persecution. In 1950 the Catholic community was reestablished in Singapore and the Church resumed its activities in the educational, health and social fields.

7. Singapore is a secular, multi-ethnic and multi-religious state

Unlike other countries in the region, Singapore is a secular state. The Constitution guarantees full religious freedom – professing, practicing and disseminating religious beliefs – as long as religious activities do not violate public order or morality, or the religious freedom of other people.

Buddhists represent around 43% of its population of 5.6 million inhabitants, along with a significant Christian (almost 20%) and Muslim (around 14%) presence and a smaller Hindu community. This pluralism has contributed to shaping the relations between the State and religions.