KWI Ensures Pope's Plan To Arrival To Indonesia In September 2024

Pope Francis. (Ashen Vaswani-Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) confirmed that the leader of the Catholic Church Pope Francis plans to come to Indonesia in September 2024 and communication between the Government of Indonesia and the Holy See has been established regarding the visit.

"This happy news comes from the Memorandum of Verbal, Ambassador of the Holy Throne to Indonesia, Mgr. Piero Pioppo, to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi dated March 5, 2024," said KWI Chairman Mgr. Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, in an official statement reported by ANTARA, Monday, April 8.

He said President Joko Widodo had sent an invitation to Pope Francis to visit Indonesia through a letter dated March 25, 2024. "The Foreign Minister has also given a positive response regarding the Pope's visit plan through the same date," he added.

Although Pope Francis' planned arrival to Indonesia continues to emit a positive signal, Antonius said the arrival of the Pope was still tentative before the official announcement.

However, his party continues to plan for the Pope's arrival to Indonesia, including through agenda discussions, committee formation, and collaboration with the government and other religious leaders.

"Because if the arrival of Sri Paus Fransiskus was actually carried out according to plan, the time would be very short, not long," said Antonius.

The bishop called on the Indonesian Catholics to pray for Pope Francis to always be healthy so that his plans to visit Indonesia are realized. "Similarly, with our great hope to accept and welcome the arrival of the Pope in Indonesia, it is really happening," said Antonius.

He also believes that the visit of the Sri Pope to Indonesia will be a great blessing for the Church and the Indonesian nation. Meanwhile, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas also confirmed Pope Francis will visit Indonesia in September, and the government has received a notification letter from the Vatican authorities regarding this matter. "Based on a letter from the Vatican received by the Government of Indonesia, Pope Francis will be present on September 3, 2024. This is certainly an honor for the Indonesian people," Yaqut said in his statement on Sunday (31/3).