Jokowi and Pope Francis to Meet at the State Palace

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is set to welcome Pope Francis at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. The meeting with the Pope, who arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, will take place the following day, making Jokowi one of the first figures the Catholic Church leader meets during his visit.

"On the 4th [of September], there will be a state event where the President will receive him," stated Heru Budi Hartono, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, during a press briefing at the Presidential Palace complex on August 26, 2024.

Heru did not respond to requests for interviews or questions regarding the preparations for welcoming Pope Francis when contacted on Monday, September 2, 2024. Similarly, Yusuf Permana, Deputy of Protocol and Media of the Presidential Secretariat, also declined to comment.

According to the schedule of Pope Francis' activities in Indonesia, seen by Tempo, a welcoming ceremony will be held at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday morning. This ceremony will take place before the Pope meets with President Jokowi.

Following the welcoming ceremony, Jokowi will host a courtesy call with Pope Francis at the Merdeka Palace around 10:00 AM local time. The meeting is expected to last for thirty minutes.

After the meeting between Jokowi and Pope Francis, the agenda will continue in the main hall of the State Palace. The State Palace and Merdeka Palace, located within the same complex, are about 650 meters apart.

During the next session, Pope Francis and President Jokowi will meet with officials, civil society representatives, and ambassadors at the State Palace. This gathering is scheduled to last for an hour before Pope Francis continues his visit in Jakarta, where he will meet with the Catholic community.

Jokowi has expressed his hopes for a successful visit by the Pope to Indonesia from September 3-6, 2024. The former Jakarta Governor mentioned that he and the Pope will discuss global peace issues.

"I think it is very important for us to discuss with him how to resolve conflicts, whether in Gaza, Ukraine, or other smaller conflicts in various countries," Jokowi said after inaugurating the Leuwikeris Dam in Tasikmalaya Regency on Thursday, August 29, 2024.

Pope Francis' agenda in Jakarta includes a grand mass that he will lead on Thursday, September 5, 2024. The Pope's apostolic journey will not be limited to Indonesia; he is also scheduled to visit other Asia-Pacific regions such as Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore, with his tour concluding on September 13, 2024.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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