Jokowi on Pope Francis' Visit: Indonesia and Vatican Committed to Fostering Peace

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo chaired a final preparatory meeting to welcome Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia. The President is poised to receive the Catholic leader at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

“I have just held a final meeting to review preparations for the esteemed Pope Francis' arrival,” he said in a statement at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

He did not elaborate on the specific details of the meeting, which was attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Sunaryo, and Chairman of the Pope's Arrival Committee Ignasius Jonan.

“Indonesia and the Vatican share a common commitment to fostering peace, brotherhood, and the well-being of humanity,” he emphasized.

Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Indonesia from September 3 to 6, 2024. He is expected to arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, September 3.

“This visit is a truly historic event,” Jokowi said. “On behalf of the Indonesian people, I extend a warm welcome and express my gratitude to Pope Francis for this noble visit to Indonesia.”

As outlined in Pope Francis' itinerary, a welcoming ceremony will be held at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday morning, September 4, prior to his meeting with President Jokowi.

Following the welcoming ceremony, Jokowi will receive Pope Francis for a courtesy call at the Merdeka Palace around 10:00 a.m. Jakarta time. This meeting is anticipated to last for thirty minutes.

After the meeting, the agenda will continue in the main hall of the State Palace, located approximately 650 meters away from the Merdeka Palace.

At the State Palace, Pope Francis will meet with officials, civil society representatives, and ambassadors. This meeting is scheduled to last for one hour before Pope Francis continues his Jakarta series of visits, including a meeting with the Catholic community.

One of the highlights of Pope Francis' visit to Jakarta is a Mass that he will lead on Thursday, September 5, 2024.

Pope Francis' apostolic journey will not be limited to Indonesia as he will also visit the Asia Pacific region, including Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore, before concluding his trip on September 13, 2024.

Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia marks the third visit by a Catholic leader to the country. Pope Paul VI visited Indonesia in 1970, followed by Pope John Paul II in 1989.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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