ROME -- Pope Francis is expected to visit Japan as early as in November, which would make him the first pontiff to do so in 38 years, since Pope John Paul II's trip in 1981.
While he has been traveling to nations experiencing ethnic and religious problems, many of which are in the Middle East, I was curious to find out why he has decided to visit Japan now.
To find out, I recently visited the Church of the Gesu in Rome, the mother church of the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, which the pope belongs to.
When I visited the church, I was struck by the beauty of the baroque-style motifs on the building's facade and the golden ornaments, fresco paintings and marble sculptures inside.
The magnificent interior indicates the power the religious organization had when the building was completed in 1580.
Inside the church, the tombs of founding members of the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, are situated facing each other.
Ignatius of Loyola was the first superior general of the Jesuits and Francis Xavier brought Christian teachings to Japan. In another room, the word "Iaponia," which means Japan, was written. I also saw a portrait of Francis Xavier, along with three paintings of missionaries depicted burning to death and beheaded Japanese believers in Nagasaki.
"Jesuit clergymen around that time appear to have been greatly inspired by learning about the dedication of Japanese believers," said Yuji Sugawara, dean of the faculty of canon law at Pontifical Gregorian University.
Inspired by Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier wrote a letter addressed to Rome in 1549, the year he arrived in Japan, to convey information about the country, including the austere lifestyles of the people, which the Jesuits emphasize. He also stated that there were no non-Christian people superior to the Japanese.
Ever since, many clergymen who have read the letter have expressed wishes to be dispatched to Japan, including Pope Francis.
In 2010, before he assumed the papal post, he said in an interview that he has hoped to spread Christianity in Japan since his youth.
As for the reason, he praised Japanese believers, saying that their faith in Christianity had been kept alive for as long as 200 years, despite the absence of clergymen due to Japan's isolationist policy and that this fact is evidence of the faith held by Japanese believers. He also said that he suffered a lung disease in his 20s that prevented him from being dispatched to Japan.
Pontiff to appeal for peace
According to several Vatican correspondents, the pope started to express his wish to visit Japan around the time he became the head of the Catholic Church in 2013.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014 invited the pope to Japan, but the plan was not realized because it is believed many officials of the Holy See were cautious about a visit out of concern that it could offend China, amid efforts to improve its relations with that country, with which it had cut diplomatic ties. In addition, the Vatican had to deal with issues linked to allegations of child abuse by clergy.
Their relationship began to thaw last year as the Vatican acknowledged the validity of bishops appointed by China.
Taking advantage of the upcoming enthronement of the new emperor, progress has been made in arrangements for the papal visit. The pope met with Japanese Cardinal Manyo Maeda and others at the Vatican in December last year to express in person his wish to visit Japan. At that time, he is said to have expressed concern that in Japan many young people commit suicide and many elderly people die alone.
During his time in the country, the pope is expected to meet with the emperor. He is also expected to appeal for the elimination of nuclear weapons and call attention to the importance of peace during visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which were hit by the 1945 atomic bombings.
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