ROUNDTABLE

From Sept. 2nd to 13th, Pope Francis will travel to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. This new visit in Asia-Pacific will be the longest apostolic journey since the beginning of this papacy (2013). Engaging with not only some of the richest and poorest countries of today's world, but also with the most religiously diverse society (Singapore) and the most Catholic nation of the 21th century (East Timor) as well as with the country with the world's largest Muslim population (Indonesia), this papal journey will be extraordinary in multiple ways. In twelve days, Francis will meet with a wide range of religious communities, state officials, Church leaders, and marginalized populations, while presiding diverse public events, interreligious gatherings, and masses.

After a number of visits in Asia (Mongolia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, etc.) many wonder why Francis has decided to return to this region while postponing other invitations (such as a visit to his home country, Argentina). What is this insistence on Asia about? Also, in light of his declining health, this apostolic visit appears as a very ambitious project. Similarly, many wonder why the Holy See has decided to combine these four countries into a single trip. Is there any particular regional trend that Francis wants to touch upon? What are the local dynamics that have brought the Vatican to schedule this trip? How are local Christians and non-Christians perceiving it? Who will benefit from this papal visit?

This roundtable will discuss the most significant aspects of this unprecedented trip. Focusing on local societies, their economy, and religious dynamics, guest speakers will analyze most important aspects of this papal visit and their relevance for local governments, ecclesial communities, national development, and cross-regional connections.​

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Guest Speakers: 

• Pastor Elga Sarapung

• Bishop Clement Papa

• Prof Michael Leach

• Prof. Jonathan Tan 

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