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Indonesian Catholics welcome pope’s visit plan with glee
Some members of the Roman Catholic Church in Indonesia are praying hard for the pope's health amid recent concerns surrounding his condition during the Good Friday and Easter Sunday celebrations.
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Pope Francis waves from the central loggia of St. Peter's basilica during the Easter 'Urbi et Orbi' message and blessing to the City and the World as part of the Holy Week celebrations, in the Vatican on March 31, 2024. (AFP/Tiziana Fabi)
The Indonesian Catholic community is celebrating the news of Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the country, hoping that the religious figure remains healthy until his scheduled trip in September.
The pope is slated to make his first-ever visit to the Southeast Asian country on Sept. 3, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said last weekend, following President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s invitation for the 87-year-old pontiff in June 2022.
“I believe this will be a special gift for the Catholics,” Yaqut said on Saturday, adding that it would be an honor for Indonesia to host the bishop of Rome.
Before heading to Indonesia, Pope Francis is expected to visit Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste in August, as reported by sources from the Vatican.
Pope Francis would be the third pope to visit Indonesia, after Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1989. Both were greeted by former president Soeharto.
The news of Pope Francis’ upcoming visit, which came ahead of Easter Sunday, was met with joy by Catholics who were excited about getting the chance to see him.
