Six Takeaways from Pope Francis’ Tour de Force Trip

By Lavoisier Fernandes –

Pope Francis once explained in an interview with a parish newspaper from Villa la Càrcova, a slum in the Greater Buenos Aires area that -“Reality is better seen from the periphery than from the centre.”

At 87 years old and facing health challenges that require him to alternate between a wheelchair and a tripod walking aid, this Apostolic visit to Southeast Asia stands as a powerful testament to his unwavering resilience and dedication, reflecting his deep commitment as the ‘pope of the peripheries.’

Amidst this remarkable ‘tour de force’ journey it was reported that Indonesia’s national police anti-terror group foiled an assassination plot arresting seven individuals accused of planning an attack during the Pope’s visit.

So, it is a  joy to see Pope Francis safely return to Rome—the eternal city of the Catholic Church—after undertaking the most ambitious journey of his papacy in both distance and duration.

In just 12 days, he covered over 32,000 kilometres, crossed six time-zones and spent 44 hours in flight, visiting two continents—Asia and Oceania—with stops in Indonesia, the largest Muslim-majority country with 275 million people and only 2.7% Catholic; and Papua New Guinea, where 27% of nearly 9 million citizens are Catholic amidst a rich tapestry of indigenous traditions and teachings. His visit also touched Timor-Leste, Asia’s youngest nation, where over 97% of its 1.3 million people are Catholic, and Singapore, a bustling financial hub with just 5-6% of its 5.6 million residents identifying as Catholic.

Each stop on this ‘tour de force’ trip offered valuable insights for the Universal Catholic Church and the world. Here are my six takeaways from Pope Francis’ 45th Apostolic journey.

1. “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika,” or Unity in Diversity

Building on the success of Scholas Occurrentes- one of Pope Francis’ key initiatives dedicated to engaging youth through education, art, and sports, the Holy Father was warmly received by 200 young people from diverse backgrounds at the “Grha Pemuda” Youth House, embodying Indonesia’s motto of “Unity in Diversity.” The event highlighted  personal stories, including one woman who shared how Scholas shaped her work, and Bryan and Christine, who talked about unity, discrimination, and cyberbullying.

A key takeaway from this interreligious dialogue was Indonesia’s “vocation for pluralism,” reflecting its rich cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity. Despite different beliefs, uniting to address common issues like corruption and cyberbullying showed how dialogue can bridge divides. Pope Francis captured this beautifully: “If we were all the same, it would be boring. Differences can lead to either war or dialogue—it is our choice. War is always a defeat, but engaging in dialogue with friends is a beautiful way to grow.”

2. The 38.3-meter Tunnel of Friendship – a message against extremism

Religious extremism is rising and threatens global harmony. From the outside interreligious dialogue may sometimes seem ineffective, often viewed as mere talks and high-profile visits with little immediate impact. Yet, these dialogues are vital for bridging divides, fostering understanding, and building long-term peace. The “Tunnel of Friendship” in Palu, Sulawesi, Indonesia, a 38.3-meter passage linking St. Joseph Catholic Church with Alkhairat Mosque, symbolizes peace and mutual respect between Christians and Muslims whilst sending a strong message against extremism and serves as a model for peace in places like Sudan and Nigeria, were Christian’s face persecution.

Pope Francis called the tunnel “a place of dialogue and encounter,” highlighting that while tunnels are often seen as dark, this one is illuminated, and he told the interfaith leaders, “You are the light that brightens it.”

3. Southeast Asia highlighted the tapestry of the Universal Catholic Church

At times, the Catholic Church might seem overly centred on Europe or Rome, potentially overlooking its universal nature and the “unity in diversity” that defines it. The Church’s faith is a tapestry that highlights respect for nature, family, and relationships, while also celebrating the diverse cultures, languages, dialects, and traditions including the indigenous people.

In Papua New Guinea, where over 800 languages are spoken, Pope Francis set aside his prepared speech to engage directly with the estimated 10,000 young people at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby. He highlighted this diversity, saying, “You in Papua, who speak more than 800 languages, share a common language: that of love and service.”

The Holy Father’s visit showed the Church’s universal nature, indicating that evangelization should be respectful and inclusive, honouring local traditions while fostering genuine connections.

4. Challenges for the Church in Southeast Asia mirror those in the West

This trip also shed light on some of the challenges facing Southeast Asia that reflect trends in the west. One of these is the tendency for reliance on God to diminish as people grow wealthier and get more focused on material things.

In Singapore, 25% of the population does not follow any religion, and growing secularism poses a threat to Christianity. Additionally, it is expected that 60-70% of the population will soon be over the age of 60, and with the younger generation having fewer children, it will become increasingly difficult to care for the elderly in the future. This contrasts with Indonesia, where the Holy Father commended the people for prioritizing having children over pets. But the region could experience declines in future similar to those in the west as it becomes more developed, where rising wealth often results in reduced religious faith.

5. Faith is lived in community

In an interview for EWTN , Papua New Guinea Cardinal John Ribat pointed out that the people of Papua New Guinea are ‘community addicted’ and despite tribal disputes the people are very community centric.

In many parts of Southeast Asia, Christian communities are experiencing a dynamic similar to the early days of Christianity. This strong sense of community is a big take-away for the secularised older Christian western world, where individualism and the ‘me-first’ mentality often dominate. True faith in Christ develops through meaningful experiences within the family and Christian community, leading to a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ and Southeast Asia provides a powerful example of this.

6. A call to embrace Christianity’s basics, with love at the centre of the Gospel.

Pope Francis, on his visit to Papua New Guinea, emphasized that the “Church’s mission is the work of the Holy Spirit, not of our techniques.” In Singapore, he stressed that “love is the centre of the Gospel.” Additionally, Indonesian Cardinal Ignatius Hardjoatmodjo in an interview said that while Indonesians are very religious, their faith is sometimes not genuine and often compromised by corruption and human trafficking. On the other hand, Cardinal Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva of Timor-Leste described the Pope’s visit as a genuine celebration of faith.

Southeast Asia, like Africa and other regions of Asia holds significant growth potential for the Church. However, this growth must be rooted in genuine faith, not merely in increasing numbers.

Christianity is more than a philosophy, set of ideas, or a moral code; it is an event filled with wonder, expressed in reaching out and fostering life for all people, whatever their nationality, race, or religion. This presents an invitation for us all within the universal Church to return to the basics- of renewing and deepening our own commitment to Jesus Christ and his Church.

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Lavoisier Fernandes, born and raised in Goa, is currently based in West London. His faith is “work in progress”- and a lifelong journey. He has always been fascinated by the Catholic faith thanks to his Salesian schooling and his passion is podcasting, theology, the papacy, volunteering.
He has hosted the ‘Talking Faith’ series for Heavens Road FM Catholic Radio, connecting with ordinary men and women within the Catholic faith, other faiths and examining issues affecting both Church and society and has also hosted the ‘Heart Talk’ series for  Shalom World Catholic TV. In 2018 one of his podcast -Mental Health and the role of the Catholic Church was shortlisted for the Jerusalem awards in UK. Presently contributes for the Goa Diocesan magazine – Renovação, Mumbai Diocesan magazine – The Examiner, the only digital Indian Catholic portal – Indian Catholic Matters  and the Faith Companion Magazine in England.