Pope Francis Rejects Luxury And Not Staying At Star Hotels, Minister Of Religion: Exemplary

Pope Francis (DOK Kemenag)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia this afternoon. The head of state of the Vatican is said to have refused to be escorted by luxury cars and was reluctant to stay at five-star hotels. The Pope was picked up at Soekarno Hatta Airport using Toyota Innova Zenix and will stay at the Vatican Embassy. Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas shows this is proof of the simplicity of a leader of the world Catholic church. "He is the leader of the Holy Throne of the Vatican, the leader of the country and the leader of the people. With the simplicity he shows, how he chooses the vehicle in a very simple way, and this deserves to be imitated," Yaqut said in his statement, Tuesday, August 3. Yaqut mengungkapkan, kunjungan apotholic Paus dimaknai sebagai keinginan untuk membangun pertamahan. "We hope that he will witness how diversity in Indonesia can be maintained properly," he said. Furthermore, Yaqut also conveyed a message from Pope Francis about the importance of maintaining dialogue between faiths. Because dialogue between faiths is the key to tolerance and world peace. "The event at Istiqlal will also be important, because after the meeting with the president, he will continue at Istiqlal, there will be an Interfaith Dialogue event. I think this is a manifestation of what he said earlier, that dialogue is the main key to the success of peace, not just the world, but between human people," he added. Pope Francis will be in Indonesia on September 3-6, 2024. For four days and three nights in Indonesia, Pope Francis chose to stay at the Vatican Embassy, Jakarta. During his visit, Pope Francis as the head of state of the Vatican will make a state visit by meeting President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the State Palace, Wednesday, September 4. The Pope is also scheduled to visit the Jakarta Cathedral Church and the Istiqlal Mosque, as well as carry out several other activities. Pope Francis will also lead the ekarist celebration at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) on September 5, 2024. The theme of Pope Francis' visit this time was "Faith, Fraternity, Compassion" or "Iman, Brotherhood, and Dozens of Feelings". Pope Francis is listed as the third whale to visit Indonesia. Previously, President Soeharto welcomed Pope Paul VI's visit, December 3-4, 1970. Indonesia has also been visited by Pope John Paul II on October 9-14, 1989.

Indonesia will become the 66th country that Pope Francis has visited since his papal year began in 2013. After Indonesia until Friday 6 September, the Pope is scheduled to visit Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore before returning to Rome on 13 September.