02/29/2020 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – According to Archbishop Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, Pope Francis’ expected apostolic trip to Muslim-majority Indonesia next September might include a Eucharistic celebration at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Senayan.
While the delegation’s schedule and details are still being worked out, Cardinal Suharyo, who heads the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI), said that a Vatican delegation will be Indonesia in March, after which the pontiff’s itinerary and activities will be announced.
Asia News reports that in addition to the Mass, the pontiff is expected to visit Jakarta’s Grand Istiqlal mosque and meet President Joko Widodo, as well as bishops, priests and nuns in Jakarta’s cathedral.
Pope Francis has recently paid visits to Thailand and Japan and previously expressed interest in visiting Indonesia this year. He will be the third pope to visit Indonesia, after Paul VI travelled to the Southeast Asian country in 1970, and Saint John Paul II followed him in 1989. The Mass the latter celebrated in Jakarta’s Senayan Sport Stadium drew more than 110,000 people.
