Jokowi Accepts Pope Francis Stately At The Merdeka Palace

Head of State Protocol Andy Rachmianto (central) gave a statement to reporters at the Jakarta Presidential Palace, Monday (26/8/2024). ANTARA/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga

JAKARTA - Head of State Protocol Andy Rachmianto said that the leader of the World Catholic Church, Pope Francis, would be received stately by President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, during his visit to Indonesia 3-6 September 2024. “In accordance with the program program that we have discussed with the Vatican, the Pope's plan will arrive in Jakarta on September 3, 2024. On September 4, as a state guest, of course, an official state ceremony will be held, will be received by the President at the Merdeka Palace and will also be held at the State Palace,” Andy said at a press conference at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Antara, Monday, August 26. Andy said Pope Francis would be treated as a guest of the state as well as a leader of the people, especially Catholics. On the evening of September 5, said Andy, a Grand Mass will be held at the Bung Karno Gelora Complex (GBK), both at the Madya Stadium and at the GBK Main Stadium which involves approximately 90 thousand Catholics. “ As well as several other activities that will involve Pope Francis. There will be an event at the Istiqlal Mosque with the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, there will also be an event at the Cathedral Building around this area as well, ” he said. In addition to the Mass Akbar event, on September 5, 2024, major international activities will also be held, namely the International Sustainability Forum (ISF) at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), which will also be attended by Heads of State including President Joko Widodo. Andy hopes that the public can anticipate traffic flow during the visit and activities of the Pope in Jakarta, including during the ISF. "There will also be a dinner (ISF) that will take location at the Monas complex and also around the area," he said. As previously reported, the leader of the World Catholic Church, Pope Francis, will travel academically to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore on September 2-13, 2024. The Visit Committee of Holy Father Francis stated that Indonesia will be the first country in a series of visits by Pope Francis to the Asia Pacific region, namely on September 3 to 6, 2024. Then, the Pope continued his visit to Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) and Vanimo from 6-9 September 2024, Dili (Timor Leste) from 9-11 September 2024 and Singapore from 11-13 September 2024. In preparation for a visit to Indonesia, the Vatican's advance team (precurrency team) has conducted several site surveys and has so far confirmed that the Pope will be present in Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (Polri) deployed 4,520 personnel in Operation Tribata Jaya to secure Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia on 3– 6 September 2024. Head of the Public Information Bureau of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said the thousands of personnel consisted of 1,077 personnel from the National Police Headquarters and 3,443 Polda Metro Jaya personnel. He explained that Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on September 3, 2024 at noon. Then, the next day or on September 4, 2024, the leader of the Catholics is scheduled to meet President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. Then, on September 5, 2024, Pope Francis is scheduled to attend an interfaith meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, and continue with meetings with beneficiaries of charitable organizations at the Indonesian Bishops' Conference Office (KWI). "Still on the same day in the afternoon, at 17.00 WIB, the Pope will hold a grand mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, which will be attended by tens of thousands of Catholics," Trunoyudo explained.

He ensured that all of Pope Francis' activities in Indonesia received optimal security so that it ran safely and conducively.