Pope Francis’ gruelling tour gets into full swing in Indonesia
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Pope Francis (left) with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (right) at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Sept 4.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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JAKARTA – Pope Francis’ gruelling tour of the Asia-Pacific got into full swing on Sept 4, with the 87-year-old appearing in good health and strong spirits as he met Indonesia’s president.
The head of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics is on a three-day visit to the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, at the start of the longest trip of his papacy.
There are concerns about the impacts of the 12-day tour, which will include Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore, on his health.
But the pontiff offered broad smiles when he got off a plane from Rome on Sept 3. He again appeared refreshed and joyful when he met President Joko Widodo on the morning of Sept 4 in the first major set piece of his tour.
A marching band and the presidential guard, including some members on horseback, welcomed the Pope to the presidential palace.
He arrived in a civilian Toyota car, sitting in the front passenger seat before getting out in a wheelchair to greet spectators.
Pope Francis waving on arrival at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Sept 4.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Hundreds of children wearing traditional costumes screamed, shouting “welcome pope” and waving flags.
He was greeted by Mr Widodo and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, the country’s president-elect who will take office in October.
Inside the palace, the Pope signed a guestbook before heading into his meeting with Mr Jokowi.
He got out of his wheelchair using a cane for talks with the Indonesian leader.
‘Historic visit’
In a speech following his meeting with Mr Jokowi, Pope Francis said inter-religious ties must be “strengthened” to fight extremism and intolerance.
“In order to foster a peaceful and fruitful harmony that ensures peace... the Church desires to increase inter-religious dialogue,” he told officials at the presidential palace.
This is a “very historic visit”, Mr Jokowi told reporters on Sept 3.
“Indonesia and the Vatican have a similar commitment to peace and brotherhood.”
After meeting Mr Widodo, the pontiff was scheduled to hold a private meeting with members of the Society of Jesus – the Jesuit order to which he belongs – at the Holy See’s mission in Jakarta.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo (centre, right) receiving Pope Francis on Sept 4, with president-elect Prabowo Subianto (second from right) looking on.
PHOTO: AFP
Catholics represent fewer than 3 per cent of the population of Indonesia – about eight million people, compared with the 87 per cent, or 242 million, who are Muslim.
But Catholicism is one of six officially recognised religions or denominations in the nominally secular nation, including Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.
Meeting the faithful
Inter-faith ties are the central theme of this stopover and the Pope is due to host a meeting on Sept 5 with representatives from all six religions at Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in South-east Asia and a symbol of religious co-existence.
He will sign a joint declaration with the mosque’s grand imam focusing on “dehumanisation” through the spread of conflict, as well as environmental degradation, according to the Indonesian bishops’ conference.
But before that, he will try to energise the local Catholic faithful on the afternoon of Sept 4 with an address at Jakarta’s cathedral, across the road from the mosque.
The cathedral, linked to the mosque by a “tunnel of friendship”, was rebuilt at the end of the 19th century after a fire. In recent days, Christians have been taking selfies with a life-sized Pope Francis cut-out there.
The Pope will end his day with a meeting with young people who are part of a global network of schools aimed at helping disadvantaged children, which he established in 2013.
On Sept 5, he will host an inter-faith meeting and the main event of his Jakarta stopover – a mass at the country’s 80,000-capacity national football stadium, which Catholics are expected to pack out.
The trip to Indonesia is the third ever by a pope and the first since Pope John Paul II in 1989.
Originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the visit takes place just three months before his 88th birthday.
He had not travelled abroad since visiting Marseille in France in September 2023.
Accompanying him to Indonesia are his personal doctor and two nurses, but Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that is standard procedure.
Pope Francis is set to arrive in Singapore on Sept 11. AFP
