Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Pope Francis, the world leader of the Catholic Church, is set to go on his first apostolic visit to the Asia-Pacific region, with Indonesia chosen as his first destination. The visit, which is scheduled for September 3–6, 2024, would be the longest apostolic trip of this 87-year-old pope since he began his papacy on March 19, 2013.
The decision to make Indonesia the first stop on Pope Francis’ 43rd international trip has drawn significant attention. This will be the third time a pope has visited Indonesia, following Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1989.
Michael Trias Kuncahyono, Indonesia’s Ambassador to the Holy See, emphasized the historical significance of this visit, highlighted that diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Vatican date back to 1947.
The Vatican was one of the first states to support Indonesia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Back then, Pope Pius XII was a vocal supporter of Indonesia’s struggle for independence, offering prayers and encouragement throughout the nation’s fight for freedom. “It can be said that our relationship was established during the revolution,” said Kuncahyono.
The Pope agenda for visiting Indonesia is not only state-related but also religious, which will be a sacred event that strengthens faith and appreciation of religion for millions of Catholics in the country. Meanwhile, Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia also offers a crucial opportunity to promote interfaith dialogue and religious harmony in Indonesia.
Pope Francis has made significant efforts to enhance interfaith harmony. One example is the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, also known as the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which he signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, on February 4, 2019.
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Another aim behind the pope’s visit to Indonesia is to strengthen collaboration in promoting peace and tolerance at a time when some parts of the world are filled with conflict and violence.
As the leader of the Holy See, Pope Francis consistently delivers messages of global peace during his visits. He often calls to stop ongoing conflicts and advocates for peaceful solutions to crises around the world, including Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine issues. The Pope urges all parties to lay down their arms and seek peaceful resolutions.
The Pope’s visit to Indonesia will not only be a sacred moment for the country’s Catholic community but also an opportunity to reinforce universal values such as peace and tolerance, in a nation known for its religious and cultural diversity.
(Raidi/Agung)
