The news of Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia, officially announced last March, has been met with great anticipation and excitement.
The visit, in response to President Joko Widodo’s invitation, is a significant event that underscores the importance of religious diplomacy and dialogue in Indonesia and the world.
Previously, Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said Pope Francis would come to Indonesia on September 3, 2024.
Yaqut said the Indonesian government had received a letter of notification from the Vatican authorities regarding the plan.
“Based on a letter from the Vatican received by the Indonesian government, Pope Francis will be present on September 3, 2024,” Yaqut said on March 31, 2024.
Significantly, the Pope’s visit also includes a scheduled visit to the Istiqlal Mosque. The Istiqlal Mosque, a national symbol of religious harmony, is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the sixth-largest in the world in terms of congregation capacity.
The Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, said that Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Istiqlal Mosque on September 5, 2024.
The visit was carried out on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia, which is planned for September 3-6, 2024.
“Insya Allah, the Pope will come to Indonesia. And on September 5, come to Istiqlal,” said Nasaruddin when giving a press statement on Eid al-Adha at the Istiqlal Mosque.
The chairman of the Istiqlal Mosque Management Agency (BPMI), Ismail Cawidu, said Pope Francis’s arrival in Indonesia to meet with religious leaders was part of a significant series of visits to Asia, aimed at fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding.
He told Tempo that on September 4, 2024, the Pope would come first to the Cathedral Church and then, the next morning, September 5, 2024, to the Istiqlal Mosque.
Pope Francis’ visit is the second papal visit to Indonesia. Previously, Pope John Paul II visited Indonesia for five days, from October 8 to 12, 1989, visiting Jakarta, Jogjakarta, Maumere (Flores), Medan, and Dili (East Timor). During his visit, the Pope presided over High Mass and directly spoke with more than one million people.
