This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
On his four-day trip to Japan, Pope Francis capped off an Asia tour that also took him to Thailand. The 82-year-old pontiff's visit was a poignant reminder of the power of faith and human connection.
A Pope Unscripted ¶
Francis's public appearances were a mix of somber and joyful moments. He celebrated mass, marked disasters like the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, and even joked with the audience during a speech to young people.
At one point, he asked if he was boring them and if he should go on, departing from his prepared remarks. He also quipped, "We have invented all sorts of gadgets but we still can't take selfies of the soul. Thank God!"
Weathering the Storm ¶
The pope faced some challenging weather conditions during his trip, including fierce winds and torrential rain. A storm broke hours before his solemn speech marking the atomic attack on Nagasaki, forcing the faithful to huddle under umbrellas and waterproofs.
Despite the rain, Francis broke from cover to pray at the memorial, his bowed head pelted with rain becoming one of the images of the trip. Just hours later, the weather had changed, and the crowd celebrating Mass with him in Nagasaki's baseball stadium had to shield themselves from the fierce sun.
Emotional Moments ¶
There were several moments of high emotion during the trip, with many survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki attacks or Fukushima nuclear disaster breaking down as the pontiff comforted them.
One particularly moving moment came when 17-year-old Matsuki Kamoshita testified about how he wanted to kill himself after the Fukushima disaster. Francis rushed up to him after the speech and they had a long exchange, the boy bowing and struggling to keep his emotions in check.
A Rock-Star Welcome ¶
Any worries that Francis might receive a muted welcome in a country where less than one percent of the population is Catholic were quickly dispelled. Enthusiastic crowds turned out wherever he went, and the centrepiece was a Mass at the vast Tokyo Dome, packed out with around 50,000 worshippers.
Francis moved through the crowds in his popemobile, beaming, waving, and kissing a steady stream of babies presented to him by his guards. At one point, he stepped down from the popemobile to greet the crowds and was mobbed by enthusiastic people jostling for a brief greeting.
