Arriving At The Jakarta Palace, Jokowi Introduces Elected President Prabowo To Pope Francis

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo introduced the President-elect of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto to Pope Francis, during a state visit by the world's Catholic leader to the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

The introduction was carried out in front of the Merdeka Palace, after the Pope was previously accepted through a state ceremony by President Joko Widodo.

The President also introduced ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet who were also present to accompany the President in the state ceremony welcoming Pope Francis, namely Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

Pope Francis as the leader of the world's Catholics traveled automatically to Asia Pacific in September 2024. There are four countries that will be visited, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore.

Indonesia became the first country visited on September 3-6, 2024 and Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia is the third time, after Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II's visit in 1989.

The journey to the Asia Pacific region for 11 days or to be precise on September 3-13, 2024 will be the longest visit of the 87-year-old Holy Father since 11 years of leading Catholics.

The election of Indonesia as the first country visited by Pope Francis, because in this country with a population of 279 million people and the majority of Muslims, a Christian population of around 20.5 million people with 8.5 million of them are Catholics.

After carrying out a series of state activities at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, the Pope whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio is scheduled to have a private meeting with members of the Jesuit Union at the Nunciantura Apostolic of the Vatican Embassy Office in Jakarta.

In the afternoon or 16.30 WIB, the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires is scheduled to meet bishops, priests, directors, monks, seminarists, and preachers at the Church of Maria Lifted to Heaven, the Cathedral Church of Jakarta. Meanwhile, young people from Scholas Occulantes were given the opportunity to meet Pope Francis at the Youth's Youth's Youth's Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth, at 17.35 WIB.

Furthermore, on Thursday, September 5, 2024, Pope Francis is scheduled to attend an interreligious meeting or meeting with interfaith figures at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta at around 09.00 WIB, followed by a meeting with beneficiaries of charitable organizations at the Indonesian Bishops' Conference Office (KWI).

In the afternoon, at 17.00 WIB the Pope will hold a grand mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, which will be attended by thousands of Catholics.