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President Jokowi and Pope Francis’ Meeting Strengthens Indonesia-Vatican Bilateralism

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Jakarta – President Joko Widodo received the World Catholic Church Leader, Pope Francis who made an apostolic visit to Indonesia from September 3, 2024 to September 6, 2024. The meeting between President Joko Widodo and Pope Francis is expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Vatican.

Pope Francis met with President Joko Widodo at the State Palace, Wednesday (4/9). Then on September 5, 2024, he will attend the Grand Mass at the Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) in Jakarta. Another agenda of the Pope is to meet with Catholic religious leaders and youth at the Jakarta Cathedral Church.

Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said the Indonesian government and people will welcome the visit of Pope Francis. According to him, the visit of Pope Francis is a symbol of friendship and dialogue between religious communities.

“Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia is an important momentum to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Vatican and make Indonesia a barometer of harmonious and peaceful religious life,” he said at the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs Headquarters, Central Jakarta.

Pope Francis’ series of activities in Indonesia is very busy. On September 4, 2024, he visited President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace. The two figures discussed strategic issues for the benefit of the nation, especially related to the current global conditions where war is still going on.
Minister Yaqut hopes that Pope Francis can inspire all parties that every religion teaches compassion among humans who are created differently by God.

During the visit, the Ministry of Religious Affairs was tasked with ensuring that all religious communities in Indonesia could worship properly. According to the Minister of Religious Affairs, Indonesia has six major religions, namely Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

“In order for religious life in Indonesia to run harmoniously, the Ministry of Religion is trying a moderate approach through religious education. The Ministry of Religion is supported by typical Indonesian religious education institutions such as Islamic boarding schools, pasraman, and Catholic schools that teach moderate religious understanding,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Representative of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference and Spokesperson for the Pope Francis Visitation Committee, Father Thomas Ulun Ismoyo, Pr., emphasized that this visit is an acknowledgment of Indonesia’s status as a miniature of the world’s diversity and tolerance.

“This visit is real evidence of the world’s recognition of Indonesia’s ability to maintain harmony in diversity. The reason it was chosen is because Indonesia is great in the eyes of the Vatican,” he said in the Merdeka Barat Forum 9 (FMB9) Dialogue: ‘Pope Francis’ Visit as a Symbol of Interfaith Friendship’, at the Media Center of the Ministry of Communication and Information, Central Jakarta.

Father Ulun added, in the global context, religious tolerance is often a sensitive issue, especially in countries with very diverse populations. However, Indonesia has succeeded in showing that differences are not barriers, but rather wealth that must be cared for and respected.

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