NNA - Next September, Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore, the Vatican announced on Friday, on a 12-day tour during which he will cover 30,000 kilometers, which will constitute his longest trip since his election in 2013, according to Agence France-Presse.

This will be the first trip abroad within a year and a major physical test for the 87-year-old Pope, who has suffered from health problems in recent months that forced him to cancel his participation on several occasions.

Pope Francis will begin his tour with a visit to Jakarta from September 3 to September 6, after which he will move to Papua New Guinea and then to East Timor and Singapore, according to a statement issued by the Director of the Media Service of the Holy See.

The announcement came after concerns about the Pope's health during Easter. The Pope became tired, canceled his participation in Holy Week ceremonies, and assigned other people to recite his sermons because he suffered from bronchitis.

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