Jakarta – Pope Francis, the Supreme Leader of the Catholic Church worldwide and Head of State of the Vatican, arrived in Indonesia yesterday (3/9/2024), in order to carry out an apostolic journey as well as a state visit to Indonesia.
Pope Francis is scheduled to meet President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Wednesday (4/9/2024). Pope Francis arrived at the State Palace at around 09.35 WIB riding in a medium MPV car with the plate SCV 1.
Tight security was carried out by Paspampres and the security team from the Vatican. When passing by with the car window open, Pope Francis waved to the residents.
The reception for the Pope at the Presidential Palace was attended by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi, and Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
According to the Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat, M. Yusuf Permana, Pope Francis was first received at the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday morning.
“The President received a state visit from His Holiness Pope Francis at the Merdeka Palace at 09.30 WIB,” said Yusuf in a written statement.
Pope Francis was a state guest welcomed with a state ceremony in the courtyard of the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
“The visit began with a state ceremony in the front yard of the Merdeka Palace,” he said.
Upon arrival at the State Palace, President Jokowi then welcomed and shook hands with Pope Francis. A state welcoming ceremony was held, before the two entered the Merdeka Palace at around 09.57 WIB.
At the Palace, Pope Francis is scheduled to deliver a speech at a meeting involving religious figures, state officials, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
Next, Pope Francis held a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians, and catechists (Speech of the Holy Father) Meeting with Scholas occurrentes at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Jakarta Youth Building.
After meeting with religious leaders, Pope Francis is also scheduled to hold a private meeting with members of the Society of Jesus (SJ) at the Vatican Embassy, Jakarta.
For your information, on Thursday (5/9/2024), Pope Francis will lead a grand mass at Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan, Jakarta, which will be attended by around 80,000 Catholics from all over Indonesia.
Meanwhile, on Friday, September 6, 2024, accompanied by a Departure Ceremony at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Jakarta, the Pope departed from Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Jakarta for Port Moresby.