Megawati Meets Pope Francis At The Vatican, Discusses World Peace To Climate

The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri met Pope Francis at the Apostulic Palace, Vatican, Monday, December 18 at noon local time.

The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri met Pope Francis at the Apostolik Palace, Vatican, Monday, December 18 at noon local time. The two discussed religious harmony and the threat of climate change that endangers nature and humans.

"When I met the group, indeed he (Pope Francis) asked that what happened in Indonesia in the life of religious harmony be continued," Megawati said after the 5-minute meeting in a written statement, Monday, December 18, was confiscated by Antara.

The meeting between Megawati and Pope Francis, which lasted about 15 minutes, began with a dialogue regarding the Zayed Award for the Human Brotherhood or the 'Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2024'. In the dialogue, the Zayed Award jury also participated.

After the meeting, Megawati and the Indonesian delegation held a special meeting with Pope Francis in one of the rooms at the Apostulic Palace or Papal at the Vatican.

On that occasion, Megawati was accompanied by the Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of Indonesia for the Holy Throne of the Vatican, Michael Trias Kuncahyono, Chairperson of the PDIP DPP who is also Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, General Treasurer of the PDIP DPP Olly Dondokambey and Chairman of the PDIP DPP in the field of law, Yasonna Laoly.

The meeting between Pope Francis and Megawati and her entourage took place warmly in one of the rooms.

Members of the Papal Council for the Vatican's Interfaith Dialogue of the Holy See, Father Markus Solo Kewuta SVD also had the opportunity to become a translator at Pope Francis' meeting with Megawati and her entourage.

Meanwhile, Puan Maharani, who took part in the meeting, said that the Indonesian nation was very serious in maintaining world peace.

Puan also said that Megawati also conveyed how climate change greatly affected the world regarding what was happening with today's situation.

"And then, Pope Francis gave his input that we as fellow human beings must jointly maintain peace, then religious tolerance is maintained and how the world now and the future will be kept at peace," said Puan, imitating Pope Francis' message.

Pope Francis, said Puan, also encouraged Indonesia to continue to maintain and maintain the value of tolerance between religious communities. Moreover, Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world.

"Indonesia consists of various religions even though it is the largest Muslim country, we also tolerate it, and Pope Francis said that it must be maintained, and we must jointly maintain religious tolerance and peace in the world," said Puan.

Puan emphasized that there was no discussion about politics at the meeting of Megawati and Pope Francis.

"We are not talking about politics, we are talking about how we are together to maintain peace," said Puan.

Puan also said that the meeting between Megawati and Pope Francis was closed with a group photo.