Pope Francis embarked on a tour of Southeast Asia in September 2024, marking the longest foreign trip of his papacy, lasting 12 days and covering four countries in the region: Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore.
Interest in Asia:
This Asian tour comes at a time of significant changes that can be summarized as follows:
Firstly, there is a special emphasis on Asia. Pope Francis aims to enhance the Vatican’s international relations with the global community, particularly with countries in the Global South and the Islamic world, especially Sunni nations. This tour was originally scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current pope’s approach to Asia distinguishes him from his predecessors; for instance, his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who had European roots, never visited Asia.
It is worth noting that Asian countries play a crucial role in selecting Francis’s successor as Pope of Rome through the Cardinals. This marks the first time Cardinals from Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore have been appointed, allowing approximately 21 Asian church leaders to vote in the conclave that elects the Pope, out of a total of 124 votes.
The Asia-Pacific region is significant for the growth of the Catholic Church in terms of both membership and clergy. Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has encouraged increased connections with Asia, having previously undertaken four long-distance trips to the region, visiting South Korea, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Japan, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Secondly, the Vatican’s relationship with China is characterized by complexity despite the momentum in diplomatic relations with other Asian countries. The Chinese Communist Party’s policies reject the Vatican’s role in the Chinese Catholic Church, which, like other religious institutions, is under the party’s authority. The Vatican insists on its right to appoint bishops in China, while it does not officially recognize China and maintains diplomatic relations solely with Taiwan.
Additionally, this visit coincides with the nearing renewal of a secret agreement for the third time, established in 2018 between the Vatican and the Chinese Church regarding the Pope’s right to appoint bishops in China and include them in a pro-Vatican secret movement.
Thirdly, the Pope has adopted a diplomacy of encounters, contrasting with the approach of his predecessor, which strained relations with the Islamic world. Pope Francis has focused on dialogue and engagement, resulting in the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi in 2019 with Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, who had previously severed ties with the former pope. This is a path the current pope seeks to continue, particularly during his visit to Indonesia.
Promoting Harmony:
The Asian tour, the longest in papal history, included numerous events driven by specific motivations and led to various outcomes, which can be outlined as follows:
Firstly, the activation of interfaith dialogue is one of Pope Francis’s primary foreign policy goals, especially with Sunni Muslims. This motivated his choice of Indonesia as a stop on his Asian journey, given that it houses the largest Muslim population in a single country globally. His predecessor, Pope Benedict, strained relations with the Sunni Muslim world after a speech in 2006, where he accused Islam of being a religion of violence and terrorism.
Pope Francis is historically the third pope to visit Indonesia. During his visit, he made a historic stop at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, discussing the shared roots of different religious beliefs. At that time, a declaration on religious harmony was signed in partnership with the Grand Imam of Indonesia.
Secondly, addressing climate change is among the most crucial messages the Pope emphasizes as a priority of his foreign policy. He highlights the connection between this phenomenon and the challenges faced by developing countries, such as poverty and resource exploitation by wealthier nations, leading to environmental injustice. He addressed this issue during his visit to Papua New Guinea and reiterated it in Indonesia, issuing a joint declaration with the Grand Imam and other local religious leaders, calling for decisive action to combat global warming. Additionally, he praised Singapore’s efforts to tackle climate change, describing it as a model for other nations.
Thirdly, reconciliation regarding sexual abuse crimes within the Church has become a contentious issue, particularly in East Timor due to the actions of certain Catholic priests. While the Pope expressed sympathy for the victims, including children and adolescents, he did not offer an official apology, which disappointed many. However, during his time there, he addressed the issue of peace and reconciliation in a country that suffered atrocities during Indonesian occupation, delivering a sermon on peaceful reconciliation diplomacy.
Fourthly, Chinese priests participated in a mass held in Singapore, which included prayers in Chinese, although there were no official Chinese representatives present. Notably, the Archdiocese of Hong Kong operates independently from the Church structure in mainland China, with the Cardinal in Hong Kong appointed directly by the Vatican.
After the visit, while on the plane returning home, Pope Francis referred to positive messages about China, which he considered a “promise and hope” for the Catholic Church. He reiterated his hope to visit China one day and mentioned that there has been positive dialogue with Chinese priests regarding negotiations for renewing the previously mentioned agreement, expressing hopes for fruitful and goodwill negotiations between both parties.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni noted that it was not expected for the Pope to fly over Chinese or Taiwanese airspace while traveling to and from Singapore. It is also worth mentioning that during the Pope’s recent mass in Mongolia in September 2023, a group of Chinese Catholics attended without this being publicly acknowledged.
Fifthly, the Pope commented on the American elections, criticizing both presidential candidates—Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump—without naming them for adopting anti-life policies, referencing abortion support from Democrats and anti-immigration policies from Republicans. He described both candidates and their respective voting processes as a choice between two evils. Notably, he previously commented on the 2016 U.S. election, criticizing Trump’s attempts to build a wall to deter migrants from Mexico, stating that “whoever builds such a wall is not a Christian.”
Lastly, addressing justice and poverty alleviation, during his visit to Singapore, the Pope called for fair wages for migrant workers in a country that hosts over a million low-wage foreign workers, emphasizing their role in the country’s economy, which is grappling with an aging population. He urged special attention to the poor and the elderly and the protection of migrant workers’ dignity. The Singapore Ministry of Manpower responded, stating that wages are determined by the market, not by the government, as it has not set a minimum wage for workers. They affirmed that labor laws ensure fair treatment of migrant workers and protect their rights and well-being.
War in Palestine:
In a press briefing after his visit to Asia, the Pope addressed the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, emphasizing his daily communication with his school in Gaza, which shelters around 600 individuals from both Muslim and Christian backgrounds. He indicated the Vatican’s potential involvement in mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire, expressing gratitude for King Abdullah of Jordan’s efforts, describing him as a man of peace.
Enhancing Status:
The recent tour and its outcomes carry multiple implications, as well as triggering various repercussions and responses. This can be summarized as follows:
Pope’s Aspirations to Strengthen His Position in the Global South: Drawing from his Southern (Argentinian) roots, the Pope’s foreign policy priorities have increasingly focused on the Global South and marginalized communities. His relationship with Europe has been fraught with tensions, leading to most of his recent foreign tours—especially the latest one—focusing on marginalized nations rather than those with which the Catholic Church has traditional ties. The Pope has initiated a significant transformation in the presence of major religious orders by directing their attention towards the Global South and appointing representatives from these regions to leadership positions within the Church and papacy, aiming to break the European-centric framework of the Catholic Church. When he was elected in 2013, 60 out of 117 cardinal electors were European. However, he worked to double the number of Asian voters for the next conclave, reduced the number of Italians by a third, and decreased North American electors from 20 to 16, while increasing Latin American electors from 13 to 19. These movements reflect Pope Francis’s efforts to achieve a rebalancing within the Church, making it more aligned with the Global South.
Possible Prelude to a Visit to China: The positive statements made by Pope Francis regarding China during his recent visit have led some estimates to view this as a precursor to a potential papal visit to China. If it occurs, such a visit would be a significant achievement for the Catholic Church, aimed at mending the rift created by the Communist Party’s threat to the Church’s authority concerning the appointment of bishops. China is expected to become home to the largest number of Christians by 2030, and the Pope’s ultimate goal is to unify Catholics globally, including Chinese Catholics, under the Vatican’s umbrella. Estimates suggest that the Communist Party is closely monitoring these developments, which contradict its policies that oppose the role of religion in the public sphere and reject the existence of any external entity that poses a challenge to the Party’s authority in regulating the Church-state relationship.
Concerns from Taiwan: Taiwan fears that it may bear the consequences of any agreements between China and the Vatican that contravene the one-China policy and recognize the island’s independence. As the only European state recognizing Taiwan, it worries that its relationship with the Vatican may be compromised or that the Vatican may withdraw its recognition of Taiwan if it opens up to normalizing relations with Beijing. Some Taiwanese are calling for the Vatican to recognize both China and Taiwan simultaneously.
Improving the Image of the Catholic Church: In light of the criticisms and accusations directed at the Catholic Church, particularly regarding some abuses committed by clergy in East Timor, the Pope’s failure to apologize for these incidents has perpetuated criticism that undermines the global status and authority the Pope and the Catholic Church aspire to achieve. Furthermore, the Timorese government’s preparations for the Pope’s visit have drawn additional criticism due to the extravagant allocation of resources—$12 million for visit preparations and approximately $1 million for constructing an altar for the papal mass—at a time when the country faces severe poverty. Some estimates suggest that this visit carries messages aimed at reaffirming the unity of all Catholics worldwide, especially between the Pope and Asian Catholics, as a response to his opponents, particularly in Europe. It also encourages local Catholics to actively engage in addressing issues such as climate change, social justice, and sustainable development.
In summary, this papal visit to Asia reflects numerous political considerations that extend beyond religious frameworks to encompass the dynamics of political interactions in the region. It also highlights the growing role of Asian churches in the voting assembly for electing the Pope’s successor, thereby reducing the Western European monopoly on the Church in favor of a stronger representation of the Global South. The future prospects of relations between the Vatican and China are crucial determinants of the Catholic Church’s role both regionally and internationally, and their effects will extend beyond the religious sphere, potentially impacting the dynamics of the conflict between China and Taiwan.
