The long-awaited visit of the Pope to Indonesia has finally come to fruition. Pope Francis (87) has launched into an apostolic journey to Indonesia from 3 to six September 2024. His Holiness, Pope Francis, is the third leader of the worldwide Catholic Church to go to Indonesia, following Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1989.
Today, Tuesday, September 3, 2024, His Holiness Pope Francis set foot in Indonesia for the primary time. The Pope and his entourage landed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, at 11:16 a.m. Western Indonesian time, aboard ITA Airways A330-941, flight number AZ4000.
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The arrival of His Holiness was welcomed by several necessary Indonesian personalities, including Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council Gandi Sulistiyanto, Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See Trias Kuncahyono.
Also present were the Archbishop of Jakarta, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, the Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia, Archbishop Piero Pioppo, the President of the Indonesian Episcopal Conference (KWI), Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, Archbishop Michael Andrew Pawlowicz, and the General Coordinator of the Pope’s Reception, Ignatius Jonan.
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After an official welcome ceremony by government officials, His Holiness Pope Francis went to the Apostolic Nunciature (Embassy of the Holy See in Indonesia) in Jakarta to rest after an extended flight. During his visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis refused formal receptions and stayed on the Apostolic Nunciature as a substitute of a luxury hotel.
In addition, Pope Francis also refused to make use of luxury cars during his stay in Indonesia. His Holiness selected a normal vehicle, an Innova Zenix, over state-owned luxury cars. This is consistent with his commitment to simplicity, as seen within the Vatican, where he favors public transportation and small cars akin to the Fiat 500.
The Pope also uses business flights for his apostolic trips, avoiding using presidential planes.
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On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, His Holiness Pope Francis is scheduled to fulfill with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, and other government officials for a welcoming ceremony and courtesy visit.
