Jakarta – With a high spirit of unity and tolerance, the Indonesian people welcomed Pope Francis’ historic visit to the country in early September 2024. This visit further strengthened relations between religious communities and confirmed Indonesia’s commitment to the values of harmony and harmony.
As the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis is known for his messages of peace, tolerance and global solidarity. His visit to Indonesia is an important momentum to strengthen the bridge of interfaith dialogue in this country known for its cultural and religious diversity.
Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that his party welcomed Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia with open arms. This visit is a symbol of friendship and dialogue between religious communities in Indonesia and brings a positive impact on interfaith relations in Indonesia and conveys a message of peace to the world.
“Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia is considered an important momentum to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Vatican and make Indonesia a barometer of harmonious and peaceful religious life,” said Yaqut.
During his visit, Pope Francis held a series of events, including meetings with religious figures, visits to local communities, and attending Masses in several strategic locations. His presence is expected to not only provide spiritual inspiration, but also encourage all parties to continue working together in building an inclusive and harmonious society.
“Indonesia is able to maintain tolerance and peace between religious adherents, including hundreds of local religious adherents, so that later Pope Francis can see this religious diversity in Indonesia,” Yaqut continued.
In a separate location, Acting Deputy for National Unity Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Janedjri M. Gaffar stated that in accordance with the direction of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto, the Government will ensure that Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia can run orderly, safely and smoothly.
“The government has prepared for Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia. Various preparations for Pope Francis’ visit have been well studied involving coordination between the Indonesian government, the Holy See and various stakeholders,” he added.
Janedjri also paid special attention to two activities, namely the smooth running of Pope Francis’ series of activities in Jakarta and Pope Francis’ activities in Timor Leste which have the potential to cause the movement of Indonesian citizens from NTT to Dilli.
“The movement of Indonesian citizens from NTT to Dilli in large numbers certainly requires management because it will be related to aspects of security, health, logistical readiness, so anticipatory steps are needed by ministries/institutions and related stakeholders. On the other hand, the Pope’s series of activities in Jakarta must also be ensured to run smoothly,” concluded Janedjri.