Pope Francis' Historic Journey to Indonesia: Promoting Interfaith Harmony and Environmental Consciousness

Pope Francis embarks on his longest trip yet, visiting Indonesia to bolster its Catholic community and highlight interfaith harmony. His visit includes a rest day, meetings with refugees, and a landmark interfaith dialogue at Jakarta's iconic Istiqlal mosque. The trip also emphasizes environmental concerns amid Jakarta's pollution crisis.

Pope Francis is set to embark on one of the longest trips of his pontificate, aiming to support Indonesia's Catholic community and promote interfaith harmony. This visit comes in a country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

Upon arrival in Jakarta on Tuesday, Francis will rest following an overnight flight from Rome and ahead of an 11-day tour that also includes Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. However, he will also meet refugees, migrants, and the sick at the Vatican residence in Jakarta.

The centerpiece of the pope's visit is his participation in a significant interfaith meeting on Thursday at Jakarta's Istiqlal mosque alongside representatives from Indonesia's six recognized religions. Situated near Jakarta's main Catholic cathedral, Our Lady of Assumption, the mosque is a strong symbol of religious tolerance.

Francis' visit also sheds light on Indonesia's struggles with religious intolerance and environmental issues. The country, noted for its air pollution woes, will look to the pope for support and guidance on these pressing matters.

(With inputs from agencies.)