PHOTOS: Pope Francis and his many travels to the Asia-Pacific region

Pontiff visited Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Philippines.

Apr 22, 2025 - 01:00
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PHOTOS: Pope Francis and his many travels to the Asia-Pacific region

Asia is mourning the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, who died aged 88 after a 12-year papacy. He had traveled extensively across Asia since becoming leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics in 2013.

During his visits, Francis drew large crowds in countries such as the Philippines, which is predominantly Catholic, but also Indonesia, Bangladesh and Thailand where Muslims and Buddhists were in the religious majority and Catholics were in the minority. He also visited South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Timor-Leste and Singapore.

Here are moments captured during Pope Francis’s visits to Asia:

Pope Francis arrives for a Mass at Rizal Park, in Manila, Philippines, Jan. 18, 2015.
Pope Francis arrives for a Mass at Rizal Park, in Manila, Philippines, Jan. 18, 2015.
(Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
Pope Francis shakes hands with Bhaddanta Kumarabhivasma, chairman of the state Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, during a meeting with the Buddhist committee in Yangon, Myanmar Nov. 29, 2017.
Pope Francis shakes hands with Bhaddanta Kumarabhivasma, chairman of the state Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, during a meeting with the Buddhist committee in Yangon, Myanmar Nov. 29, 2017.
(Max Rossi/Reuters)
Devotees greet Pope Francis as he visits St. Peter's Parish church in the Sam Phran district of Nakhon Pathom Province, Nov. 22, 2019.
Devotees greet Pope Francis as he visits St. Peter's Parish church in the Sam Phran district of Nakhon Pathom Province, Nov. 22, 2019.
(Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters)
Pope Francis arrives to conduct a Holy Mass at the Assumption Cathedral in Bangkok, Nov. 22, 2019.
Pope Francis arrives to conduct a Holy Mass at the Assumption Cathedral in Bangkok, Nov. 22, 2019.
(Jorge Silva/Reuters)
Pope Francis leaves after leading a holy mass at Tasitolu park in Dili, Timor-Leste, Sept. 10, 2024.
Pope Francis leaves after leading a holy mass at Tasitolu park in Dili, Timor-Leste, Sept. 10, 2024.
(Firdia Lisnawati/AP)
Pope Francis greets Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at Rizal Park, in Manila, Philippines, Jan. 18, 2015.
Pope Francis greets Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle at Rizal Park, in Manila, Philippines, Jan. 18, 2015.
(L'Osservatore Romano/AP)
Pope Francis wears a traditional hat during a meeting with faithful in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sept. 8, 2024.
Pope Francis wears a traditional hat during a meeting with faithful in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, Sept. 8, 2024.
(Gregorio Borgia/AP)
A Rohingya Muslim refugee from Myanmar, center left in white robe, leads a prayer with Pope Francis at an interfaith peace meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 1, 2017.
A Rohingya Muslim refugee from Myanmar, center left in white robe, leads a prayer with Pope Francis at an interfaith peace meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 1, 2017.
(Aijaz Rahi/AP)
Students hold signs to welcome Pope Francis in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, on Sept. 8, 2024.
Students hold signs to welcome Pope Francis in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, on Sept. 8, 2024.
(Tiziana Fabi/AFP)
Pope Francis meets Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, Nov. 28, 2017.
Pope Francis meets Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, Nov. 28, 2017.
(Max Rossi/AP)
Pope Francis arrives to preside over a mass in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, Sept. 3, 2023.
Pope Francis arrives to preside over a mass in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, Sept. 3, 2023.
(Louise Delmotte/AP)

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