Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, marking the beginning of his longest and most ambitious Asia-Pacific tour. At 87 years old, the pontiff touched down at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport aboard a chartered flight, accompanied by his entourage and a group of reporters.
This visit to Indonesia kicks off a 12-day journey through the region, with stops planned in Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. During his stay in Indonesia, from September 3 to 6, the pope will participate in a series of important events, including a state reception in Jakarta and a mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, where he is expected to address approximately 90,000 Catholics.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed his desire to engage in discussions with Pope Francis on pressing global issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the crisis in Ukraine. Additionally, the pope is scheduled to meet with the supreme imam of Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, and participate in an inter-religious dialogue at Southeast Asia's largest mosque, the Istiqlal Mosque, on Thursday.
Pope Francis, who is not only the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide but also the head of state for the Vatican, sent customary greetings to every country he passed over en route to Indonesia, including Iran, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. His messages varied by nation, offering prayers for peace, prosperity, and divine blessings.
In his first official event on Wednesday, the pope will address Indonesia's political leaders. He is expected to continue his advocacy for global climate action, a cause he has championed since the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Jakarta, a city of over 10 million people, faces severe climate challenges, including chronic flooding and sinking land. The Indonesian government is currently developing a new capital, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo, in response to these environmental concerns.
Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation with a population of around 280 million, has a small Catholic community, comprising just 3% of its citizens. Nevertheless, President Widodo emphasized the historic nature of this visit, noting that both Indonesia and the Vatican share a commitment to fostering peace, brotherhood, and prosperity for all.
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