Jakarta. Indonesia is eager to welcome Pope Francis' visit as the Southeast Asian country gears up to host the historic papal visit.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who is set to meet the pope, expressed a warm welcome message to the Catholic leader.

"I, on behalf of the Indonesian people, warmly welcome and express my gratitude for the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Indonesia," Jokowi said at the Presidential Palace complex, while saying that his country had made all the necessary preparations for the pope’s visit. 

Jokowi also has just held the final preparatory meeting for the visit. 

Jokowi said that the pope’s Jakarta trip was originally planned years ago, but it got postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He added: “It will be such a historic visit.”

This will be the third time for Indonesia to host a papal visit. In 1970, then-President Soeharto greeted the visiting Pope Paul VI. Indonesia also had a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1989. Jokowi said he hoped to discuss peace issues including on how to cool down the Russia-Ukraine war and the Gaza crisis. 

Aside from meeting President Jokowi, the pope will visit Jakarta Cathedral and Istiqlal Mosque, among other activities. He will also lead a mass at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium.