Pope Francis has arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, marking the beginning of his ambitious 12-day tour across the Asia-Pacific region. This visit, the longest of his papacy, will include stops in Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.
The 87-year-old pontiff touched down at Jakarta’s Soekarno–Hatta airport at 11:16 a.m. local time (0416 GMT) on a chartered flight, accompanied by his entourage and international reporters. The three-day visit in Indonesia, a Muslim-majority nation, is primarily focused on strengthening inter-religious ties between Christian and Muslim communities.
Pope Francis’s visit to Indonesia is seen as a significant effort to foster dialogue and reconciliation in a country where more than 87% of the population, approximately 242 million people, are Muslims. Catholics constitute just 3% of the population. This trip underscores the Pope’s commitment to promoting peace and understanding between different faiths, a mission he has pursued throughout his papacy.
“Francis of Assisi crossed the battlefield to meet with one of the Muslim leaders there. So that character… is something [Pope Francis] wants to embody and show,” said Ignatius Suharyo, the Archbishop of Jakarta, referencing the 13th-Century saint whose name the Pope adopted.
Religious studies expert Jonathan Tan from Case Western Reserve University noted that the Pope’s visit aims to pave a new way forward in Christian-Muslim relations, moving beyond historical tensions and misunderstandings. “I think what the Pope wants to do is to do a new way forward, a new way of relating to one another, not a defensive way,” Tan said.
The trip also presents a considerable challenge for Pope Francis, who turns 88 in December and has faced several health issues, including respiratory and mobility problems. Concerns have been raised about the impact of the demanding itinerary on his health. To address these concerns, the Pope will be accompanied by a doctor and two nurses throughout his travels.
Despite these challenges, Pope Francis remains determined to continue his mission. His decision to embark on such an extensive international trip at this stage of his life is unprecedented, as no other pope has traveled abroad at such an advanced age. His immediate predecessor, Benedict XVI, resigned at 85, and John Paul II last traveled abroad at the age of 84, a year before his death.
Pope Francis, who has been using a wheelchair since 2022 due to a knee fracture and strained ligaments, had to cancel his trip to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai last year due to a lung inflammation. Nevertheless, he remains committed to his pastoral duties and his efforts to build bridges between different faiths during this significant tour.
Indonesia is The world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.
