Pope Begins Asia-Pacific Tour in Indonesia to Promote Religious Harmony

Pope Francis arrived in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, on Tuesday, beginning an important 11-day journey to the Asia-Pacific region. His visit aims to foster better understanding and dialogue between Catholicism and Islam in this diverse part of the world.

This visit marks the first papal engagement in Indonesia since 1989, when Pope John Paul II visited the nation. During his stay in Jakarta, Francis plans to hold an interreligious meeting at the iconic Istiqlal Mosque and celebrate a Mass for the country’s Catholic community, which numbers around 8 million.

The Vatican praised Indonesia for its foundation built on mutual respect for diverse religious beliefs. Pope Francis, now 87, is scheduled to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday and deliver a speech to key political figures at the Istana Merdeka Presidential Palace.

Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta highlighted the unique cultural fabric of Indonesia, where inter-religious marriages, particularly between Catholics and Muslims, are common. He noted that such unions are rare in many other Muslim-majority nations.

The Pope’s agenda also includes meetings with Catholic bishops, priests, seminarians, and catechists at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. Following his time in Indonesia, he will travel to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, on Friday.

In Papua New Guinea, Pope Francis plans to engage with both civil and religious leaders and to visit communities that are part of Catholic ministries. These ministries focus on uplifting the spiritual and social welfare within a country where Catholics are the largest religious group, comprising around 4 million adherents in a predominantly Christian population.

On September 9, the Pope will continue his journey by flying to East Timor, a nation where Catholicism is prevalent. He is set to meet with local Catholic leaders and congregations at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Dili. Additionally, he will address the nation’s leaders and hold an outdoor Mass for thousands of faithful.

The final destination on his trip will be a two-day visit to Singapore from September 11 to 13. This marks Francis’s first appearance in the religiously diverse city-state, where he will meet with leaders from various civil and religious backgrounds and celebrate Holy Mass at the National Stadium, which holds 55,000 people.

In Singapore, the Pope will focus on youth and the elderly, visiting St. Theresa’s Home, a nursing facility established by the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1935. He will also participate in a youth-led interreligious gathering at Catholic Junior College.

Analysts suggest that Pope Francis’s selection of these specific countries reflects his ongoing commitment to bringing “God’s comfort” to remote or marginalized communities, an emphasis that has characterized his leadership over the past 11 years.

Throughout his papacy, the Pope has sought to strengthen the Church’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region, where it continues to flourish in terms of new converts and those pursuing religious vocations. Previous visits have included stops in South Korea in 2014, Sri Lanka and the Philippines in 2015, and Thailand and Japan in 2019, even though Catholics represent only about 0.5% of the population in those latter two nations.