Leader of Catholic Church Arrives in World’s Largest Muslim-Majority Country
This is the beginning of his longest trip to date, spanning four Southeast Asian countries and expected to focus on interfaith ties.
Indonesia, which has the largest population of Muslims in the world, is the first stop on his 12-day tour, during which he will also visit Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore until Sep. 13.
The Ita Airways flight carrying the Pope, the Vatican delegation and 75 journalists landed at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport shortly before 11.30 am local time (04:30 GMT) after a 13-hour flight.
The 87-year-old was received by Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and will rest for the remainder of Tuesday.
His official agenda will begin on Wednesday with a welcome ceremony at the Istana Merdeka Presidential Palace before a courtesy visit to President Joko Widodo.
He is also expected to greet immigrants and Sant’Egidio community members in the country, as well as representatives of the Catholic, diplomatic and civil society sectors.
Some 4,300 soldiers and 4,700 police officers, as well as snipers, will ensure the Pope’s safety, according to Indonesian authorities, during the various events in the archipelago between Sep. 3-6.
A key highlight of Francis’ visit to Indonesia is his participation on Thursday in an interfaith meeting with representatives of the six religions that are officially recognized in the country: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism.
The event will take place at Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia and a symbol of religious freedom and tolerance. It is linked via a “tunnel of friendship” to the capital’s main Catholic cathedral, Our Lady of Assumption, which Francis will visit with the grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar, before they sign a joint declaration.
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Leaders of Indonesia’s second-largest Islamic group, Muhammadiyah, said Francis’ visit showcased his commitment “to build and strengthen relations” between Catholics and the Islamic world, as they urged the Indonesian government to raise the issue of Palestine in meetings with the pontiff.
“It is imperative for Indonesia to make the visit and meetings with Pope Francis a momentum to take initiative and … find a permanent solution for the future of Palestine by involving different stakeholders at the global level,” Muhammadiyah leaders said in a statement.
Catholics make up about 3 percent of the country’s 270 million population, compared to the 87 percent who are Muslim.
Source: Agencies
