Pope Francis landed in Indonesia on Tuesday, marking the commencement of his extensive Asia-Pacific tour, during which he is anticipated to advocate for global efforts to combat climate change. This journey, his longest to date, began as the 87-year-old leader arrived at Jakarta's Soekarno–Hatta airport aboard a chartered ITA Airways flight, accompanied by his entourage and media representatives.
Over the next ten days, Francis is scheduled to visit East Timor, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea. Utilizing a wheelchair, he descended from the aircraft using a lift and was presented with a bouquet of local flora by two children in traditional Indonesian clothing. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by Indonesia's religious affairs minister, the country's ambassador to the Vatican, and several bishops, before being ushered into a waiting vehicle.
Tuesday was designated as a rest day for the Pope, following his lengthy overnight flight from Rome, with no public engagements planned. His official duties will begin on Wednesday with an address to Indonesia's political leaders, followed by an inter-religious gathering at the Istiqlal Mosque on Thursday.
Spanning 12 days, this tour is the most extensive undertaken by Pope Francis, covering nearly 33,000 kilometers. Known for his role in promoting the 2015 Paris climate agreement, the Pope is expected to reiterate his calls for action against global warming.
Jakarta, a city of over 10 million inhabitants, faces significant challenges from climate change, including persistent flooding and land subsidence. The Indonesian government is currently in the process of relocating the capital to Nusantara on Borneo island.
Indonesia, home to approximately 280 million people, is the world's largest Muslim-majority country, with about 3% of its population being Catholic. President Joko Widodo expressed his nation's warm welcome for Pope Francis, highlighting the shared commitment between Indonesia and the Vatican to foster peace, brotherhood, and prosperity.
