JAKARTA: Pope Francis arrived in Muslim-majority Indonesia on Tuesday (Sep 3) to kick off a four-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific that will be the longest and farthest of the 87-year-old's papacy. The head of the world's 1.
JAKARTA: Pope Francis arrived in Muslim-majority Indonesia on Tuesday to kick off a four-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific that will be the longest and farthest of the 87-year-old's papacy.
Catholics currently represent fewer than 3 per cent of the population of Indonesia - about eight million people, compared with the 87 per cent, or 242 million, who are Muslim. It is linked via a"tunnel of friendship" to the cathedral across the road, where Christians in recent days have been taking selfies with a life-sized cutout of the pope.
The visit"is not really aimed at Catholics in Indonesia" but is intended to highlight the global importance of Islamic-Christian dialogue, he told AFP."When there's an event like this, we enjoy it because when it's our religious events, they also show tolerance to us," said Ranggi Prathita, a 34-year-old Muslim who has been selling customised Pope t-shirts.
At the Istiqlal Mosque, Pope Francis will sign a joint declaration with its grand imam that will focus on"dehumanisation", notably the spread of violence and conflict, as well as environmental degradation, according to the Indonesian bishops' conference. Security has been stepped up for the pope's visit, with roads around key sites where he is scheduled to visit being re-routed or closed.His trip to Indonesia is the third ever by a pope and the first since John Paul II in 1989.
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