Pope Francis Expresses Gratitude for Jokowi's Invitation, Greets Prabowo

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pope Francis expressed his appreciation to Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for the invitation to visit Indonesia. The Catholic Church leader described the warm welcome he received at the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, as pleasant and friendly.

During a meeting with the President, government officials, ambassadors of friendly countries, and religious figures at the State Palace, Pope Francis conveyed his warm greetings to President-elect Prabowo Subianto.

In his speech, Pope Francis addressed the unique cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity of Indonesia. The Catholic Church, he said, aims to foster interfaith dialogue to eliminate prejudice and cultivate an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. 

“This is crucial to address common challenges, including combating extremism and intolerance, which often stem from the distortion of religion,” the Pope emphasized.

During the welcoming ceremony, Prabowo had the opportunity to greet Pope Francis. As Defense Minister, Prabowo accompanied Jokowi during the welcoming ceremony for state guests. Jokowi was seen introducing Prabowo to Pope Francis at the moment.

In his remarks at the State Palace, Jokowi emphasized that Pope Francis' visit was beneficial for Indonesia as a multi-ethnic country. He highlighted the nation’s rich cultural diversity, with 714 tribes, ethnicities, and 17,000 islands.

“This visit carries a very strong message about the importance of celebrating differences,” Jokowi stated.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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