Pope Francis arrives in Indonesia as he begins 4-nation Asia journey

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday initially of the longest trip of his pontificate, hoping to encourage its Catholic group and have fun the custom of interfaith concord in a rustic with the world’s largest Muslim inhabitants.

After an in a single day flight from Rome, Francis was wheeled off the aircraft in his wheelchair and onto the tarmac for a welcoming ceremony underneath Jakarta’s perennial hazy, humid and polluted skies.

Two kids sporting conventional garments handed him a bouquet of greens, fruits, spices and flowers.

Francis deliberate to relaxation for the rest of the day, given the pains of an 11-day voyage zigzagging throughout time zones that can even take him to Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. Nonetheless, the Vatican stated the 87-year-old pope met with a bunch of refugees, migrants and sick folks on the Vatican residence in Jakarta.

Exterior the residence, he was greeted by well-wishers wanting to catch sight of the primary pope to go to since St. John Paul II in 1989.

“Once I noticed him within the automobile I used to be so touched, goosebumps,” stated Fanfan, a 49-year-old housewife from West Jakarta who makes use of just one identify. “I hope he’ll hopefully seem in entrance of me to wave his hand once more.”

Francis’ first full day of actions begins Wednesday with visits to the nation’s political leaders and conferences with Indonesian clergy who’re serving to to gasoline the expansion of the Catholic Church in Asia.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed the pope, saying in a broadcast assertion that “Indonesia and the Vatican have the identical dedication to fostering peace and brotherhood, in addition to making certain the welfare of humanity.”

The spotlight of Francis’ first cease shall be his participation Thursday in an interfaith assembly in Jakarta’s iconic Istiqlal mosque with representatives of the six religions which might be formally acknowledged in Indonesia: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism.

The mosque, the most important in Southeast Asia, sits throughout a piazza from the capital’s principal Catholic cathedral, Our Girl of Assumption, and the 2 are so shut to every one other that the Muslim name to prayer might be heard throughout Mass.

Their proximity just isn’t coincidental, however strongly willed as an emblem of non secular freedom and tolerance that’s enshrined in Indonesia’s Structure. The buildings are additionally linked by an underground “Tunnel of Friendship” that Francis will go to with the grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar, earlier than they signal a joint declaration.

Whereas Francis will wish to spotlight Indonesia’s custom of non secular tolerance, the nation’s picture as a reasonable Muslim nation has been undermined by flare-ups of intolerance. In 2021, a militant Islamic couple blew themselves up outside a packed Catholic cathedral on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island throughout a Palm Sunday Mass, injuring no less than 20 folks.

“We’ve no drawback with the go to. He’s a visitor and we’ll welcome him,” stated Eldy, a 64-year-old retired authorities employee who makes use of one identify and was out strolling in Jakarta on Sunday. “He desires to go to our Istiqlal mosque, he can do it.”

Regardless that Catholics make up solely 3% of Indonesia’s inhabitants, the sheer variety of Indonesians — 275 million — makes the archipelago dwelling to the third-largest Christian group in Asia, after the Philippines and China.

Consequently, 1000’s are anticipated to throng to Francis’ occasions this week, which embody a Mass on Thursday afternoon at Jakarta’s principal stadium that’s anticipated to attract some 60,000 folks. Metropolis authorities have urged residents to do business from home that day given roadblocks and crowds.

“It’s a pleasure for our nation, particularly for us Catholics,” stated Elisabeth Damanik, a 50-year-old housewife outdoors a packed Mass on Sunday at Our Girl of the Assumption. “Hopefully the pope’s go to can construct spiritual tolerance in our beloved nation of Indonesia.”