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Jakarta – Pope Francis, the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church, will make an official visit to Indonesia from September 3 to 6, 2024. This visit is part of Pope Francis’ apostolic journey to the Asia-Pacific region and marks the first visit by a Pope to Indonesia in over three decades.
Indonesia is the first country visited by Pope Francis, marking the importance of Indonesia’s role in interfaith dialogue and world peace.
This visit holds deep significance for the relationship between Indonesia and the Vatican, as well as for the joint efforts in promoting peace and religious freedom in the world. Pope Francis is known as a figure who is very concerned about humanitarian issues and interfaith dialogue.
Nahdatul Ulama activist and daughter of former President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), Yenny Wahid, expressed her support for the Pope’s visit.
“The visit of Pope Francis will strengthen interfaith dialogue in Indonesia and affirm Indonesia as a model of religious harmony in the world,” he said.
According to him, Pope Francis will also raise humanitarian issues during his visit.
Furthermore, Yenny Wahid stated that the Pope is known for his strong views on the necessity of global solidarity in addressing humanitarian crises, whether caused by conflict, poverty, or climate change. In Indonesia, the Pope will emphasize the importance of maintaining brotherhood and togetherness in facing these global challenges.
Yenny Wahid assesses that this visit is also a form of appreciation from Pope Francis for the religious freedom guaranteed in Indonesia.
“As a country with diverse religions and beliefs, Indonesia is considered successful in creating harmony among religious communities,” explained Yeny Wahid.
Pope Francis hopes that this visit can serve as an example for other countries in promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
One of the important agendas during Pope Francis’ visit is the Grand Mass to be held at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on September 5, 2024. This mass is expected to be attended by tens of thousands of Catholics from all over Indonesia and to become a historic moment full of meaning.
Meanwhile, the figure of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Habib Luthfi bin Yahya, who is also known as the leader of the World Sufi Forum, appreciated the arrival of the Pope and the plan for a Grand Mass in Indonesia.
“If the Akbar Misa can become a momentum for brotherhood among religious communities, it will strengthen social ties in Indonesian society,” he stated.
