AP PHOTOS: Pope Francis concludes Asia-Pacific visit to 4 countries in his longest trip ever
BANGKOK (AP) — Pope Francis has wrapped up his longest and most challenging trip ever, which took the 87-year-old pontiff more than 32,000 kilometers (20,000 miles) by air to four countries in the Asia-Pacific from Sept. 2 to 13.
He visited the country with the world's largest Muslim population — Indonesia, with about 242 million — and the country with the highest percentage of Catholics outside the Vatican itself — East Timor, with some 98%.
He visited two of the world's poorest countries — Papua New Guinea and East Timor — and one of its richest — Singapore.
By days and distance, it was one of the longest papal trips ever as Francis sought to reinforce the importance that Asia has to the Catholic Church. It is one of the few places where the church is growing in terms of baptized faithful and religious vocations.
The crowds he drew did not disappoint, with Francis celebrating Mass for about 100,000 people in both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, 50,000 in Singapore and...