Pope Francis arrives in Indonesia to begin extensive Asia-Pacific tour

Pope Francis arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Tuesday, marking the start of his four-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific region, the longest and most distant journey of his papacy.

The 87-year-old pontiff, leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics, began his 12-day trip with a focus on strengthening inter-religious relations in the Muslim-majority nation.

After Indonesia, he will continue his tour with visits to Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.

Despite his increasingly fragile health, the Pope appeared cheerful as he disembarked in a wheelchair, greeted by an honor guard, Indonesian officials, including the Minister of Religious Affairs, and received a traditional bouquet from two children. After a 13-hour flight from Rome, he was picked up in a modest Toyota car, opting for simplicity over luxury. The Pope will spend his first day in Jakarta resting before meeting Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday.

Although Catholics make up less than three percent of Indonesia's population - around eight million people compared to the 87 percent Muslim majority - their faith is one of six officially recognized religions in the secular nation.

On Thursday, Pope Francis is scheduled to meet representatives of all six religions at Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, and a symbol of religious harmony. He will also lead a mass at Indonesia's 80,000-seat national football stadium.

The Pope's visit to Indonesia is seen as part of his broader effort to promote Islamic-Christian dialogue, a message he has emphasized in previous visits to other Muslim-majority countries. Local Catholics hope that the Pope will address growing concerns about religious discrimination in Indonesia.

Pope Francis will sign a joint declaration with the grand imam of Istiqlal Mosque, focusing on issues such as violence, conflict, and environmental degradation, topics that have been central to his papacy. The Pope has consistently called for greater global action on climate change, a pressing issue for Indonesia, particularly for its capital, Jakarta, which is threatened by rising sea levels.

This visit is the first by a Pope to Indonesia since John Paul II's visit in 1989 and was originally planned for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It comes just three months before Pope Francis' 88th birthday. Despite his health challenges, including recent hernia surgery and respiratory issues, the Pope remains committed to his international mission. He is accompanied on this trip by his personal doctor and two nurses, though Vatican officials insist no special precautions are being taken.

Security has been heightened for the Pope's visit, with road closures and reroutes around key locations in Jakarta to ensure his safety.