Indonesia

Indonesians will be able to visit it upon request and with limited access for a maximum of 300 people per day. Only some areas can be visited, smoking is prohibited. Outgoing President Widodo in the new centre where he will spend his last days in office. The completion of the work, which should be completed within the next two decades, is still far off.

In the general audience held today in St Peter's Square, Francis retraced the stages of the apostolic journey that in recent days has taken him to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. "I met living communities that grow by attraction. It gladdened my heart to be able to spend some time with the missionaries and catechists of today’.

The city where the pontiff will go tomorrow is located in a particularly remote area. Francis has expressly asked to add this stop to be able to meet the faithful of the diocese, but also the priests and religious of the Argentine Institute of the Incarnate Word in the parish of Baro, where he has contributed to the construction of a secondary school. The presence of Indonesian missionaries also among those who fled from across the border.

Archbishop Martinelli stresses to AsiaNews the link that makes the declaration signed yesterday in Jakarta and the 2019 text on human fraternity‘different and complementary’. In a world marked by war ‘the danger is getting used to dehumanisation’. Strong ‘symbols’ such as the Tunnel of Friendship or the Abrahamic House are essential. From the Pope also the call to look in depth’ in interreligious dialogue, returning “to the question of God as a fundamental human question”.

In front of thousands of people crowded at a local sports facilities, the pontiff called on the local Church to “to put out to sea.” Since “The word of the Lord cannot remain a fine abstract idea,” we are asked “to change our gaze” despite “fears and mediocrity”. Tomorrow morning Francis will bid farewell to Indonesia and depart for Papua New Guinea.

The Istiqlal Declaration signed in Jakarta during the interreligious meeting. The invitation to believers to work together in the defence of the dignity of every person in conflicts and in the fight against climate change. Walking through the ‘tunnel of friendship’ between the mosque and the cathedral, the Pontiff invited people to ‘look in depth’ to seek what unites religions and to ‘cherish the bonds of friendship’ that make encounter in diversity possible.

“Proclaiming the Gospel does not mean imposing or opposing one's faith to that of others," Francis said in his meeting with bishops, clergy, and pastoral workers in Jakarta cathedral. Calling a catechist to him, he said that catechists carry the Church forward. “What keeps the world going is not the self-interest, it is the charity that is given.”

The Jesuit, a well-known member of the Indonesian Church, speaks about what Francis will say tomorrow in Jakarta to the authorities and the local Catholic community. The most important issues today are “friendship between religions and care for the environment.” This trip is different from the John Paul II's in 1989, when Suharto was still in power. For Fr Magnis-Suseno, “The danger today is called oligarchy,” but he has faith in the future.

A ceremony at Sukarno-Hatta airport, before transfer to the nunciature. The people of Jakarta impressed by Francis' extreme simplicity. During the thirteen-hour flight, the pontiff was also presented with a reproduction of the Xi'an stele, testimony to the ancient roots of Christianity in China.

The pontiff left Rome on the long flight to Jakarta. Tomorrow he will arrive at the nunciature; on Wednesday morning, he will be officially welcomed at the Presidential Palace. For President Joko Widodo, Francis is a “top figure” with whom he will discuss global issues, like Ukraine and Gaza". Much hope is placed in the meeting with the Grand Imam Nazaruddin Umar with whom the pontiff will sign a joint declaration after walking through the tunnel that connects the capital’s main mosque to the Catholic cathedral.

Today's news: Kuki drone attack on security forces in Manipur; The UN launched the anti-polio vaccination campaign in Gaza; The Japanese Defence Minister aims at a record allocation of funds for the next fiscal year; China's strengthens relations with Turkmenistan over gas deliveries.

Originally from Flores Island and the Verbite superior general until a few weeks ago, Mgr Paulus Budi Kleden began his term as archbishop of Ende on 22 August. On the eve of the pope's arrival in the country, he talked to AsiaNews about expectations surrounding the visit, as well as the missionary face of the Indonesian Church, which currently has its own priests and nuns serving evangelisation in dozens of countries around the world.