Pope plans Indonesia trip to promote inter-religious dialog

The trip, which will also include a visit to Papua New Guinea, is likely to take place in September, the sources said. The Vatican has not yet announced the trip.

By REUTERS
Pope Francis holds weekly general audience at the Vatican, May 15, 2019. (photo credit: REUTERS/YARA NARDI)
Pope Francis holds weekly general audience at the Vatican, May 15, 2019.
(photo credit: REUTERS/YARA NARDI)
Pope Francis will promote inter-religious dialog this year during a trip to the world's biggest Muslim country Indonesia and make the first papal visit to mainly Catholic East Timor since it won independence from Jakarta, diplomatic sources said.

The trip, which will also include a visit to Papua New Guinea, is likely to take place in September, the sources said. The Vatican has not yet announced the trip.

East Timor is more than 95% Roman Catholic, a legacy of colonization by Portugal. It won independence in 2002 from Indonesia, with which it shares a land border. The late Pope John Paul visited East Timor and Indonesia in 1989.

Papua New Guinea, which also shares a land border with Indonesia on another island, is predominantly Christian. Pope John Paul visited in 1984.


Related Tags
Pope
Indonesia
vatican