The pontiff departed from Rome on Monday afternoon and landed in Jakarta shortly before midday local time. This marks the first leg of a 12-day journey that will also take him to Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.
Covering nearly 32,000 kilometres (about 20,000 miles), this tour will test the pope’s health, which has been fragile in recent times.
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Despite this, he has appeared in good spirits in recent weeks. This is his longest trip during his 11-year tenure as the leader of the global Catholic Church.
In Indonesia, where Catholics make up less than 3% of the population—around eight million people compared to the 87% Muslim majority—the visit will highlight religious diversity.
The country officially recognizes six religions, including Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism, alongside Catholicism.
On Thursday, Pope Francis is scheduled to meet with representatives of all six recognized faiths at Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and a symbol of religious coexistence. The mosque is connected to the nearby cathedral via a “tunnel of friendship,” where local Christians have recently been taking photos with a life-sized cut-out of the pope.
At the mosque, Pope Francis will sign a joint declaration with Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar. This statement will address issues such as dehumanization, violence, and environmental degradation, particularly focusing on their impact on women and children, as outlined by the Indonesian bishops’ conference.
The pope has consistently advocated for stronger actions against climate change and its consequences, including rising sea levels that threaten Jakarta.
Security measures for this three-day visit are stringent, with over 4,000 law enforcement officers, including military and police forces, deployed. A special stamp has been issued in his honour, and a welcoming billboard has been displayed in central Jakarta.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has described the visit as a significant reflection of Indonesia’s religious diversity, emphasizing its role in demonstrating the country’s commitment to religious harmony.
This is the third papal visit to Indonesia, following those of Paul VI in 1970 and John Paul II in 1989. Despite the official recognition of various faiths, there are concerns about rising discrimination, particularly against Christians, with hopes that the pope will address these issues.
Michel Chambon, a theologian and anthropologist at the National University of Singapore, noted that the pope’s visit is part of a broader effort to promote Islamic-Christian dialogue, similar to his previous visits to other Muslim-majority countries.
During his visit, Pope Francis will also meet with outgoing President Joko Widodo, engage with young people, diplomats, and clergy, and celebrate a Mass in an 80,000-seat stadium. This tour marks his 45th overseas trip and was originally scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes just three months before his 88th birthday.
The pope, who now routinely uses a wheelchair and has faced recent health issues, including hernia surgery and respiratory problems, will be accompanied by his personal doctor and two nurses, though Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni indicated that this is standard practice and no additional precautions are being taken.
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