President Jokowi Ready To Receive Pope Francis' Visit At The Jakarta Palace

Pope Francis/DOK via Instagram @franciscus

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo is ready to receive a visit from the supreme leader of the world Catholic Church as well as the Vatican Head of State Pope Francis at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday, September 3 morning.

"Tomorrow the President will receive a state visit from His Excellency Pope Francis at the Merdeka Palace at 09.30 WIB," said Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media of the Presidential Secretariat Yusuf Permana in a statement, Tuesday, September 3.

Yusuf said as scheduled, the visit would begin with a state ceremony in the front yard of the Merdeka Palace.

In addition, there will also be a meeting with religious leaders and diplomatic corps at the State Palace.

Previously, Holy Father Pope Francis and his entourage arrived at the VVIP Terminal of Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Soetta) Tangerang, Banten, using a blue ITA Airways Z400 commercial aircraft with Vatican and Indonesian flags, Tuesday, at around 11.25 WIB.

Pope Francis came to Indonesia on an academic trip to Asia Pacific.

When he arrived, he got off the plane in a wheelchair escorted by a number of security guards.

Furthermore, Pope Francis was given a hand Bouquet which was specially made to welcome his arrival with the meaning of 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika' which is a motto of the Indonesian nation with the meaning 'different but still one'.

This series is made using native plants, vegetables, fruit and spices from Indonesia as representing various ethnic groups and customs in Indonesia.

Pope Francis, who is also the Head of State of the Vatican, then continues his journey to the Vatican Embassy in Jakarta using a four-wheeled Toyota Innova Zenik vehicle.

As scheduled, Pope Francis as the leader of the world's Catholics traveled avatoly 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 from September 3 to 6, 2024 and this visit will be recorded as the third trip for the Holy Father of Catholics to Indonesia after Pope Paul VI in 1970 and 1989 when the Roman Catholic Church was led by Pope John Paul II.