President Jokowi welcomes Pope Francis to Indonesia

Jakarta, Aug 3 (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) conveyed a welcome speech to the head of the worldwide Catholic Church, Pope Francis, during his visit to Indonesia on September 3-6, 2024.

"On behalf of the Indonesian people, I warmly welcome and thank Pope Francis for his very noble visit to Indonesia. Welcome to His Holiness Pope Francis to Indonesia," President Jokowi noted in his statement delivered at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.

President said he had just held a final meeting with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and Archbishop of Jakarta Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo at the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday.

The meeting aims to discuss preparations for Pope Francis' arrival in Indonesia on Tuesday, which is expected at 11:30 WIB at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

President Jokowi assessed Pope Francis' visit to be very historic and had been planned for several years, though it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is the third visit after Pope Paul IV visited in 1970 and the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1989," he remarked.

According to the president, during the four-day visit, Pope Francis will hold state meetings and meet with diplomatic corps and community representatives as well as interfaith figures at Istiqlal Mosque.

The Pope will also lead the Pope Francis Grand Holy Mass at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) on Thursday.