Jakarta is Ready to Joyfully Welcome Pope Francis.
Jakarta — Indonesia is preparing to welcome Pope Francis with great enthusiasm and spirit. This visit is not only a historic moment for Catholics in the country but also a symbol of unity and harmony among religious communities.
Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church known for his messages of peace and social concern, will arrive in Indonesia on September 3, 2024. This visit is scheduled to last for four days with various important agendas, including meetings with religious leaders, visits to local communities, and a public mass attended by thousands of Catholics.
Archbishop of Jakarta Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo emphasized the importance of the physical presence of the Catholic Church leader, Pope Francis, in Indonesia.
“Why is the physical presence of the Pope important for Indonesia? The answer is as simple as a child longing for the presence of a father. Similarly, the Catholic community in Indonesia hopes for the presence of their leader,” said the Archbishop.
Various preparations have been made to welcome the arrival of Pope Francis, including decorations at various locations he will visit, tight security, and receptions at the airport and places of worship.
A number of preparations to welcome the arrival of the Pope have begun, one of which was conveyed by M. Holik Muardi, Senior Manager of Branch Communication & Legal at Soetta Airport, regarding VVIP facilities.
“The airport authorities have prepared a VVIP room to welcome the arrival of Pope Francis at Soetta Airport later,” said Holik.
In addition, the committee for Pope Francis’ visit estimates that around 86,000 people will attend the grand mass held on September 5, 2024, at approximately 5:00 PM WIB, lasting for 1.5 hours.
The Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, stated that the public needs to pay attention to the potential traffic congestion that may arise during the grand mass with Pope Francis.
“I urge you because on September 5, 2024, there are two major events; we hope the public can observe and pay attention to this.” So that one can make the decision to work from home (WFH) independently. There will definitely be transportation congestion and traffic that exceeds that of a regular day. “Therefore, the public is urged to pay attention to the routes to GBK and its surroundings,” said Heru.
For Catholics across Indonesia, along with the general public, they are ready to welcome Pope Francis with open arms and hearts full of gratitude. This welcoming event is expected to not only strengthen faith and spirituality but also promote understanding and tolerance among different religious communities.
