Pope Francis The Vatican confirmed last Friday that Pope Francis will travel to Thailand and Japan in November with stops scheduled in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Pontiff will visit Thailand from November 20-23 in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the Vatican Mission to Siam in 1669. He will then travel from November 23-26 to Japan, where the theme of his visit is ‘Protect all life’.
In recent years, the Church has been working in Japan to respond to life issues and protect the most vulnerable. The Holy See Press Office said that the trip’s motto ‘protect all life’ not only applies to respect for all human dignity, but also extends to the environment.
“In Japan today as well there are a pile of problems related to life and peace, in addition to the issues of economy, environment and relations with neighbouring countries. Moreover, recovery from natural catastrophes and nuclear plant accidents remain as persisting problems,” the Vatican statement said.
The papal trip to Japan has been much anticipated after Pope Francis told journalists in January he was planning to travel to the country. It has been reported that Pope Francis will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Japanese Emperor Naruhito during his visit to the country.
Persecutions
Catholics in Japan make up less than 0.5% of the country’s population. Christianity was first introduced to Japan in the 16th Century by Catholic missionaries, most notably St Francis Xavier. In the years that followed the Catholics in Japan suffered many waves of fierce persecutions with hundreds martyred, including 26 canonised saints who were executed by crucifixion in 1597 in Nagasaki.
In Thailand, the small Catholic community – representing less than 0.5% of the mostly Buddhist population – has been celebrating the 350th anniversary of the Vatican Mission to Siam with events throughout 2019.
Pope Francis will be the second Pope to visit both Japan and Thailand. St John Paul II visited Thailand in 1984 and Japan in 1981. During his visit to Japan, the former pontiff visited Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, including a stop in the town of the Immaculata established by St Maximilian Kolbe.