Pope Francis Receives State Welcome At Merdeka Palace

JAKARTA, Sept 4 (Bernama-ANTARA) -- Pope Francis was welcomed with a state ceremony at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) personally greeted the Pope during his visit, reported ANTARA news agency.

The Pope arrived at the palace at around 9:35 am local time in a white Toyota Innova Zenix car, accompanied by a cavalry and marching band. The car took him around the Presidential Palace complex.

Along the path, children in traditional attire stood waving Indonesia's red and white national flag and the flag of Vatican City to welcome the Pope.

Jokowi and President-elect Prabowo Subianto, as well as several ministers, such as Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, then welcomed the head of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis is undertaking an apostolic journey to the Asia Pacific in September 2024.

His visit will cover Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore, with Indonesia, which is home to 8.5 million Catholics.

His visit to Indonesia is from September 3 to 6, 2024.

The Pope is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Jesuits at the Apostolic Nunciature in Indonesia.

On Wednesday, he is also scheduled to meet bishops, priests, deacons, and others at the Jakarta Cathedral at 4:30 pm. local time and meet Scholas Occurrentes youths at the Youth Centre of Graha Pemuda Senayan at 5:35 pm. local time.

On Thursday, the Pope will participate in an interfaith dialogue at Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, at around 9 am local time before greeting beneficiaries of charitable organisations at the Office of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI).

On the same day, he will preside over a grand holy mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium at 5 pm local time, which will be attended by thousands of Catholics. He will leave for Papua New Guinea on September 6.

--BERNAMA-ANTARA