Friday Morning, Pope Francis Leaves Indonesia: Thank You For Your Friendly Smile

Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia, Tuesday, September 3, 2024. (Indonesia Papal Visit Committee)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis will leave Indonesia on Friday 9 September 2024. The Pope is scheduled to depart from Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 09.45 WIB.

Pope Francis said he was happy to be in Indonesia. When giving a speech at the Istiqlal Mosque, last Thursday Pope Francis said he was happy to be in Indonesia known for diversity.

"Thank you for the joint journey you have continued. Indonesia is a big country, a mosaic of culture, ethnic groups, customs, very rich diversity, which is also reflected in the diversity of ecosystems and the surrounding environment," said Pope Francis.

The leader of the World Catholic Church is in Indonesia on September 3-6, 2024. While in Indonesia, on the first day, Pope Francis received visits from marginals, orphans, sick people, and refugees at the Vatican Embassy (Nunciatura) complex in Central Jakarta.

The Pope then made a state visit and was accepted by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Merdeka Palace, Wednesday, September 4. On the same day, Pope Francis also held a meeting with bishops, priests, dipacons, members of the service, seminarist, and catechist life institutions at the Jakarta Cathedral Church. The Pope also visited Graha Pemuda and held a meeting with youth organizations.

On Thursday 5 September, Pope Francis met interfaith figures at the Istiqlal Mosque. In the afternoon, Pope Francis led a grand mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium which was attended by around 90,000 Catholics.

"Thank you for your friendly smile, which always radiates on your face and is a sign of your beauty and inner openness. May Allah preserve this gift," said the Pope.

Indonesia became the first country visited by Pope Francis in the Asia-Pacific tour series, September 3-13, 2024. After coming from Indonesia, Pope Francis will continue his journey to Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) and Vanimo from September 6 to 9, 2024, Dili (Timor Leste) from September 9 to 11, 2024, and Singapore from September 11 to 13, 2024.

Pope Francis is listed as the third Pope to visit Indonesia. Previously, Pope Santo Paulus VI visited December 3-4, 1970, followed by Pope Santo John Paul II on October 9-14, 1989.