Pope Francis, 87, arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 3, 2024, marking the start of his longest and farthest apostolic journey to date. This 12-day tour will take the pontiff through Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore, covering over 32,000 kilometers. The visit aims to promote interfaith dialogue, particularly between Christianity and Islam, and address pressing issues such as climate change and social inequality.Upon arrival at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Pope Francis was greeted by the Indonesian Minister for Religious Affairs and two children in traditional attire who presented him with flowers. Despite health concerns and his advanced age, the Pope surprised journalists by walking through the plane to greet them during the 13-hour flight.The pontiff’s agenda includes meetings with outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo, representatives of the country’s six officially recognized religions, and marginalized communities. A highlight of the visit will be an interfaith event at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, where the Pope will sign a joint declaration with Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar.Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate a mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, with an expected attendance of 80,000 people. The visit underscores the Vatican’s recognition of Indonesia’s importance, both for its significant Catholic population (the third-largest in Asia) and as a venue for Christian-Muslim dialogue.As the third Pope to visit Indonesia, following Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1989, Francis’s journey highlights the ongoing commitment of the Catholic Church to engage with the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation. The Pope’s message is expected to focus on religious tolerance, environmental protection, and social justice, themes that resonate across the diverse nations he will visit during this historic tour.
Key points
- Pope Francis has begun his longest apostolic journey, a 12-day tour of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore.
- The visit aims to promote interfaith dialogue, particularly between Christianity and Islam, in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.
- Climate change and social inequality are key issues the Pope plans to address during his tour.
- The pontiff will participate in an interfaith event at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque and celebrate a mass for 80,000 people at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Contradictions👾Some sources report the tour as lasting 11 days, while others state it as a 12-day journey.
This minor discrepancy likely stems from different counting methods for arrival and departure days.
