Jakarta – In just a few days, Indonesia will host the historic visit of Pope Francis, the supreme leader of the Catholic Church, who is scheduled to arrive on September 3, 2024.
This visit is not only an important moment for Catholics in Indonesia, but also a strong symbol of the country’s commitment to upholding and promoting the values of tolerance and harmony among religious communities.
This visit by Pope Francis will be the first of its kind in the history of Indonesia. Therefore, thorough preparations have been made by various parties, including the government, religious organizations, community leaders, and security forces, to ensure that this visit takes place safely, orderly, and smoothly. All stakeholders have expressed their full commitment to maintaining a conducive environment during Pope Francis’s visit.
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, emphasized the importance of this visit as a momentum to strengthen national unity and harmony. On several occasions, the President expressed his hope that this visit could reinforce the spirit of tolerance that has become a part of Indonesian culture.
“The presence of Pope Francis in Indonesia is proof that our nation is an open nation that values differences.” “This is the right moment to show the world that Indonesia is a model of interfaith harmony,” said President Joko Widodo.
In preparation for the arrival of Pope Francis, various strategic measures have been taken by the government. The Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, stated that the police and local government have also ensured that all security plans have been thoroughly prepared.
“The placement of security personnel at strategic points and good coordination among various agencies will support the smooth running of this event. In addition, measures to prevent radicalization will also continue to be strengthened to anticipate potential threats that may arise,” he said.
Meanwhile, PT PLN (Persero) ensures the reliability of electricity four days ahead of Pope Francis’s visit to Jakarta. The General Manager of PLN Jakarta Raya Distribution Unit, Lasiran, stated that preparations are being made for various matters. Starting from ensuring that the electrical power balance is safe to deploying 496 personnel on standby 24 hours a day.
“We are also preparing personnel to secure the visiting teams from vehicles at the JCC, the Vatican Embassy, Fairmont Hotel, and other places including the presidential palace,” said Lasiran during the ‘Alert Assembly for the State Visit of Pope Francis and ISF 2024’ at the Jakarta Cathedral in Central Jakarta.
With all the preparations that have been made, all stakeholders hope that Pope Francis’s visit to Indonesia will take place successfully and peacefully.
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