The Vatican press office announced that Pope Francis will visit three nations in Asia and one in Oceania in early September. The pope has accepted the invitation of the Heads of State and local Church authorities to make what will be his 45th Apostolic Journey abroad.
The Pope is scheduled to depart Rome on September 2 and return on September 13.
He travels first to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where he will land on September 3 and remain until September 6.
Invitation from the Indonesian President.
The arrival of His Holiness is a state invitation extended by President Joko Widodo.
On March 25, 2024, the official invitation from the President of Indonesia was conveyed through the Vatican’s Ambassador to Jakarta, as quoted from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ statement on Friday, April 12.
President Joko Widodo had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the highest leader of the Catholic community. "In June 2022, I delivered an invitation letter from President Jokowi to Pope Francis. Alhamdulillah, after almost two years of waiting, Pope Francis finally came to Indonesia. I think this will be a special gift for Catholics in particular,"
Impact of the Pope’s visit
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserts that the Indonesian government is actively preparing for the arrival of Pope Francis alongside the Vatican and relevant stakeholders. They say that the Pope’s visit to Indonesia is significant for the entire Indonesian nation, not just for Catholics.
“This visit is expected to strengthen the message of tolerance, unity, and world peace,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This visit reaffirms the close relationship between Indonesia, especially the Catholic community, and the Vatican, according to a statement by Archbishop of Jakarta, Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo.