Pope Francis has arrived in Jakarta. The visit of the head of the Catholic Church carries a message of peace, faith, and fraternity for all people, not just Catholics—at least according to official statements.
The head of the Vatican was warmly welcomed by Indonesians and expats alike. People gathered around the country's embassy in Jakarta, where they had the opportunity to see and greet the Pope. Passersby also welcomed him along the road to the embassy, and Francis smiled and waved back from the window of his car.
Pope Francis and his entourage arrived at the Vatican embassy to rest before continuing their trip. Numerous men in black suits with red ties guarded the embassy's outer gates, and hundreds of police officers accompanied the pontiff.
"I’m certainly very happy that the Pope came to Indonesia. I’ve been waiting for this for several years, but he kept postponing. However, I think his visit has come at a time when Indonesia is facing many problems. I hope that with the Pope's arrival, Indonesia can return to peace," said Maria from South Jakarta.
Many, like 26-year-old Paula, couldn't hold back tears of joy. "I’m so happy. It’s such an honor for me that the Pope has come to Indonesia. I’m deeply touched. I hope the Pope's visit brings blessings and peace to Indonesia," she said.
"We’re proud that Indonesia became the first stop on his 45th journey," admitted Nurvidi.
The 87-year-old Pope Francis landed in Indonesia on Tuesday, where the majority of the population is Muslim. He will visit a total of four Asian countries. This visit will be the longest of his papacy. Jakarta is the first stop on a 12-day journey, during which he will also visit Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. The pontiff will stay in Indonesia for three days.
The tour, covering about 32,000 km, is the longest and farthest in his 11 years of leading the worldwide Catholic Church. It will be a test of Francis's fragile health. However, it has been noted that despite traveling in a wheelchair, he appears lively and in good spirits.
Pope Francis had planned to visit Indonesia as early as 2020, but the plan was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In June 2022, Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, sent another invitation to the Vatican. Pope Francis was expected at the G20 Religion Forum "Religion of Twenty" held on November 2-3, 2022, but the bishop was unable to attend the forum in person—neither physically nor virtually. Now, the visit has finally taken place.
Although Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, Catholics make up about 8.1 million people or 3% of the total population. In Papua New Guinea, there are 2 million Catholics, accounting for about 32% of the population. In Timor-Leste, which gained independence from Indonesia in 2002, 96% of the population are members of the Catholic Church, which includes about one million people. In Singapore, the last stop on the Pope's trip, there are 395,000 Catholics, roughly 3% of the republic's population.
According to Cardinal Suharyo of the Catholic Church of Indonesia, the Pope's visit to Jakarta is also important because the Vatican was one of the first countries to recognize Indonesia's independence.
President Jokowi stated that his people warmly welcome Francis. "This is a very important historical visit," he told reporters. "Indonesia and the Vatican share similar commitments to strengthening peace and fraternity, as well as ensuring prosperity for the people."
And today, at 9:35 AM, Pope Francis arrived at the president's residence in Jakarta. His car entered the grounds of the Merdeka Palace, accompanied by a marching band and riders.
There, he was welcomed by President Joko Widodo and President-elect Prabowo Subianto, as well as a number of ministers. A grand state ceremony was held there to greet the head of the Holy See.
Sources: Antara, Jakartapost
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