Pope Francis departs on 45th Apostolic Journey

Pope boards plane. Image: Vatican Media

Source: Vatican Media

Pope Francis has begun his 45th Apostolic Journey, to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore. The papal plane departed from Rome's Fiumicino Airport at 5.32pm local time.

The 12-day visit to four countries in Asia and Oceania will be the longest Pope Francis has ever made as the Successor of Peter.

Shortly after 4pm, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, brought a group of 15 homeless men and women assisted by the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, to Casa Santa Marta, for a brief visit with the Holy Father.

The Pope then traveled by car to the airport, where he boarded the papal plane.

The papal plane is scheduled to land in Jakarta at around 11.30am local time (GMT+7).

As he departed, Pope Francis sent a telegram to the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella with the following message:

"As I am about to undertake my Apostolic Journey to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore, driven by the desire to meet with our brothers and sisters in the faith and all those who, in these nations rich in human and spiritual values, have borne witness to solidarity, communion, and dialogue even in times and situations marked by trial, I am pleased to extend to you, Mr President, and to the beloved Italian people my best wishes, which I accompany with heartfelt hopes for peace and prosperity."