JakartaPost-July 10
Preparations for Pope Francis’ first visit to Indonesia are intensifying two months ahead of his scheduled arrival in early September, with a variety of government bodies, from the Foreign and Religious Affairs ministries, to the security apparatus, ramping up their coordination with the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s embassy, in Jakarta. Catholic churches across the country, meanwhile, are organizing enthusiastic congregations aspiring to attend a Mass set to be held at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) stadium in Central Jakarta on the third day of the Pope’s visit, on Sept. 5. Around 70,000 people are expected to attend the service. According to a release by the Holy See in Rome, the 87-year-old pontiff will arrive in Jakarta on Sept. 3 and is scheduled to receive a formal welcome from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the State Palace the next day. Subsequently, the pontiff will deliver speeches at various different locations including the Jakarta Cathedral and Istiqlal Mosque, the latter being Indonesia’s largest house of worship and Southeast Asia’s biggest mosque. Francis is also confirmed to sign a declaration of humanity with Istiqlal Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar. As the pope’s visit is forecast to attract huge crowds and could prove physically challenging, the government has intensified efforts to ensure the pope’s wellbeing. A special committee of the Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia (KWI), which is planning the itinerary, reports the preparations for the papal visit have been intense as they require “physical, spiritual and technical” planning. Though preparations have been underway for a long time, the past three to four months have seen more intense efforts, explained Thomas Ulun Ismoyo of the KWI. The Indonesia trip is one leg of the pope’s two-week-long Asia-Oceania tour in September, which will be his longest foreign trip of his 11-year papacy. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2024/07/10/preparations-pick-up-for-popes-busy-visit-to-indonesia.html
