Jakarta. Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Indonesia gives people a chance to learn the principles that the Catholic Church leader embraces, according to Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo.

The multifaith Indonesia is inching closer to hosting its first papal visit in decades. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Jakarta on September 3-6. He will meet President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, and lead a mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. His Jakarta trip includes an interfaith meeting with representatives of the country’s official religions at the Istiqlal Mosque, which is Southeast Asia’s largest place of worship for Muslims. 

“Pope Francis’ physical presence [in Indonesia] is incredibly important, but what is no less important is to learn his ideas, but not limited to [the encyclical] Fratelli tutti [‘All Brothers’], among others. We can also learn his life principles,” Suharyo told the press in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Suharyo said that the papal visit would strengthen the bilateral ties between the Vatican and Indonesia. He added: "Vatican City is among the first countries to recognize Indonesia’s independence."

In 1970, then-President Soeharto welcomed the visiting Pope Paul VI. Pope John Paul II came to Indonesia back in 1989. Pope Francis is set to be the third pope to visit Indonesia. 

The Muslim-majority Indonesia officially recognizes six religions, namely Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism. 

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