Pope Francis to make 12-day Asia trip in September

The visit, his first abroad since September last year, has been on the cards for months, but the pontiff's health issues had raised questions on whether it would go ahead.

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(FILES) The wind lifts Pope Francis mantilla as he stands at the central loggia of St. Peter's basilica during the Easter 'Urbi et Orbi' message and blessing to the City and the World as part of the Holy Week celebrations, in the Vatican on March 31, 2024. - Pope Francis, 87, will travel to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore in September, the Vatican announced on April 12, 2024. . (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)