Pope Francis Mass Live Broadcast From GBK Thursday Petang, Azan Magrib On Television Asked To Form Text Running

Pope Francis while leading Mass (Wikimedia Commons/Aletia Image Department)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) issued an appeal for television stations to broadcast the Maghrib call to prayer in the form of running text when live broadcast of mass services led by Pope Francis at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta, Thursday, August 5 evening.

This is in accordance with a letter submitted by the Director General of Catholic Community Guidance and the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religion to the Directorate General of Post and Information Technology of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology dated September 1, 2024.

The letter also appealed to all national television to broadcast live and not cut off the mass service led by Pope Francis tomorrow.

"The Ministry of Religion suggested that the Mass led by Pope Francis on September 5, 2024, at 17.00 to 19.00 WIB be broadcast live, not cut off on all national television," reads a letter signed by the Director General of Bimas Catholic Suparman and the Director General of Islamic Guidance Kamaruddin Amin.

The Ministry of Religion also reminded that the azan Maghrib, which may take place on the sidelines of the mass service, will still be broadcast.

However, the Ministry of Religion appealed to the broadcast of the Maghrib call to do it by running text or text running that appears on the television screen.

"In this regard, please announce the Maghrib call to prayer by running text," the letter reads.

The appeal came after the Committee for the Visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, requested that the Ministry of Religion be pleased to bridge communication with religious organizations regarding the broadcast of the Maghrib call to prayer during the mass service at GBK.

The Indonesian Minister of Religion Yaqut Choil Qoumas, who also welcomed Pope Francis' visit at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Banten, Tuesday, August 3, said that the visit of the Highest Leader of the Catholic Church must be interpreted with the desire to build peace between religious believers.

Therefore, the Minister of Religion invites the Indonesian people to show unity and integrity as well as mutual understanding and mutual understanding.

"We hope that he will witness how diversity in Indonesia can be maintained properly," said Yaqut.

Indonesia became the first country in a series of visits by Pope Francis to the Asia-Oseanian region. Pope Francis visited Indonesia on September 3-6, 2024.

Pope Francis is the third Pope to visit Indonesia. The first visit was made by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and the second visit was made by Pope John Paul II in 1989.

On September 4, the leader of the Catholics is scheduled to meet with President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta and visit the Jakarta Cathedral.

Then on September 5, Pope Francis will visit the Jakarta Istiqlal Mosque, followed by a meeting of beneficiaries of charitable organizations at the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI), and will lead the Kudus Mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (GBK) Jakarta.

Furthermore, on September 6, the leader of the Catholics will continue his journey to visit Papua New Guinea.

Pope Francis is scheduled to travel avertholics to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore on September 2-13, 2024.