Jakarta. Pope Francis received a state welcoming ceremony on Wednesday in Indonesia, home to one of the largest Catholic populations in the world. His four-day visit is focused on delivering a message of religious tolerance and unity.

The 88-year-old Pontiff arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Tuesday, displaying his trademark humility by riding in the front seat of a common vehicle en route to the Vatican Embassy in Jakarta. With the window down, Pope Francis waved to cheering crowds lining the streets. He had specifically requested to stay at the embassy rather than the luxury hotel prepared by the government.

During his speech at the State Palace, Pope Francis expressed his admiration for Indonesian families, who often still have three or four children. In a light-hearted moment, he joked that in many other countries, families now prefer to adopt pets instead of raising children, which drew laughter from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Pope Francis is set to lead a mass at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Thursday. His visit to Indonesia will conclude on Friday, after which he will continue his journey to Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore.

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