The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, on Tuesday, embarked on an ambitious Asia-Pacific tour, marking the beginning of what will be his longest journey to date.
The 87-year-old, arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, aboard a chartered ITA Airways flight, which also carried his entourage and the accompanying media.
The pope’s arrival at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport was marked by a ceremonial welcome.
Disembarking from the plane using a lift, the pontiff, who was seated in a wheelchair, was greeted by two children in traditional Indonesian dress presenting him with a bouquet of local produce.
A red carpet, flanked by honour guards, led to his official reception, where he was met by Indonesia’s religious affairs minister, the ambassador to the Vatican, and several bishops from the country.
As he entered his waiting car, the pope waved and smiled, acknowledging the warm welcome.
Due to the long 13-hour flight from Rome, Francis had no public engagements scheduled for Tuesday, allowing him time to recuperate.
His official itinerary begins on Wednesday with a speech to Indonesia’s political leaders.
The following day, he is set to participate in an inter-religious meeting at Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia’s largest mosque.
This 12-day tour, which will cover nearly 33,000 kilometers, 20,505 miles, will also include visits to East Timor, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea before returning to Rome on the evening of September 13.
Throughout his journey, Pope Francis is expected to emphasize global action against climate change, continuing his advocacy from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Jakarta, with its population exceeding 10 million, faces significant climate-related challenges, including chronic flooding and land subsidence.
In response, the Indonesian government is constructing a new capital, Nusantara, on Borneo Island. Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation with around 280 million inhabitants, has a Catholic minority comprising approximately 3% of its population.
President Joko Widodo welcomed Pope Francis warmly, calling the visit “very historic” and noting that it had been long-awaited but delayed due to the pandemic.
He emphasized that both Indonesia and the Vatican share a commitment to promoting peace, brotherhood, and prosperity.
“This is a very historic visit,” he told reporters.
“Indonesia and the Vatican have a similar commitment to cultivate peace and brotherhood as well as ensure prosperity for the people.”
