Pope Francis hoping to visit Hiroshima, Nagasaki around end of 2019

While there are few Christians in Japan, the Pope is well respected here. I hope the world will heed his certain calls for peace while here. "Blessed are the peacemakers".

What you said is absolutely true, and the abuse scandal ought to be his top priority. However. it's not his only priority and I hope that positive things that he does (like this visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki) don't get wiped out by protests.

I doubt protests will wipe out the positive aspects of his visit. But it's important that such a visit isn't all smiles and PR. Whilst not religious, I feel that Francis has done more than his predecessors to address the issue of clerical abuse but it's not enough.

I do admire his standing up to other injustices and the sinister happenings that we see in the form of excessive capitalism and dictatorial leaders that this world is blighted with.

Although the population of Catholics in Japan is small at around 400,000, or 0.3 percent of the national population, 

0.3 percent of total population sounds small but Japan has a large population of over 120 million. 400,000 is not a small number. I am actually surprised there is so many Catholics in Japan.

@Toasted Heretic: What you said is absolutely true, and the abuse scandal ought to be his top priority. However. it's not his only priority and I hope that positive things that he does (like this visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki) don't get wiped out by protests.

I wish him well on his visit and I also wish the protesters well who no doubt will turn out to highlight the dreadful rapes and abuses carried out by RCC clergy all over the world, with new details emerging all the time.

Francis must make it absolutely clear there will be no more cover-ups on this heinous issue.

That’s wonderful! Welcome to Japan in advance Padre.

I will go to Nagasaki if the Pope comes for sure. Great chance to see him. God bless him.

Hopefully, he will tell the Japanese to accept more migrants and people fleeing poverty.