The pontiff's itinerary includes a stop at Southeast Asia's largest mosque, the Istiqlal Mosque, which can accommodate over 100,000 worshippers and stands as a symbol of Indonesian independence.
In a gesture of interfaith dialogue, Pope Francis will walk through the "Tunnel of Friendship" connecting Istiqlal Mosque to Jakarta Cathedral with Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar. The Pope will also sign a joint statement on religious harmony with leaders from Indonesia's six officially recognized religions: Islam, Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, Confucianism, and Hinduism.
During his visit, the pontiff will meet with President Joko Widodo and conduct an open-air Mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, expected to draw over 80,000 faithful. Fr. Thomas Ulun Ismoyo, spokesperson for the papal visit committee, emphasized the opportunity to showcase Indonesia's diversity and tolerance as keys to lasting peace.
Indonesia, with a population of 280 million, is home to about 8.5 million Catholics, representing 3 percent of the population. The country's constitution recognizes six religions and mandates that all citizens adhere to one of them, reflecting Indonesia's unique approach to religious pluralism within its Muslim-majority context.
In the longest trip of his papacy, Pope Francis will later visit Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
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