Pope Francis returned to Rome on Friday after a grueling 12-day tour of Asia and the Pacific, defying health problems to connect with the faithful from the jungles of Papua New Guinea to the skyscrapers of Singapore.
The plane carrying the 87-year-old pontiff landed in Rome just before 7:00 p.m. – successfully completing Francis’ longest trip in duration and distance since he became head of 1.4 billion Roman Catholics more than 11 years ago.
The Argentine pope’s epic four-nation trip was one that some believed was foolhardy, if not impossible, for someone who has been plagued by health problems in recent years, from knee pain and sciatica that forced him to use a wheelchair to recent flu and bronchitis attacks.
But the successful trip and his near rapturous reception in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore clearly energized the pope – who nevertheless occasionally struggled to keep his eyes open during late liturgical readings or to appear focused during a formal military parade.
At a lively closing interfaith meeting in Singapore, the pope joked with young people in the audience, urging them to respect other beliefs, avoid being “slaves” to technology and escape their comfort zones.
“Don’t let your stomach get fat, but let your head get fat,” said the pope, raising laughter in the crowd.
“I say you risk it, go out there. A young person who is afraid and does not take risks is an old person,” he said.
The historic tour, which was originally planned for 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, involved a 43-hour flight and a distance of 32,000 kilometers.
