Pope Francis is set to begin a monumental 12-day tour across the Asia-Pacific region, covering Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.

Starting on Monday, this trip will span over 20,000 miles by air.

Highlighting environmental concerns and interfaith dialogue, the pope will attend more than 40 key events.

His tour was initially planned for 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic.

Key highlights include visiting Jakarta’s main mosque and the 'Tunnel of Friendship' symbolizing religious harmony, a mass for 80,000 in Jakarta, and a climate-focused stop in Papua New Guinea.

In East Timor, Francis is expected to address the clergy sexual abuse issue amidst expected mass attendance.

The tour concludes in Singapore, a strategic move to enhance Vatican-China relations, recently bolstered by China's recognition of Bishop Melchior Shi Hongzhen.