Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, immediately met with refugees from the Jesuit Refugee Service upon his arrival in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Pope was welcomed warmly by the Indonesian people, including religious affairs ministers, ambassadors, and bishops.
The children at the refugee center were being cared for by Dominican sisters, while the elderly and homeless were assisted by the Indonesian Community of Sant’Egidio.
This visit marks the beginning of Pope Francis’s 45th Apostolic Journey in Asia and Oceania, which is considered his longest papal trip to date.
During his 10-day visit, Pope Francis is expected to meet with officials from Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore, and celebrate Mass in each country.
Notably, Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation, warmly welcomed the Pope despite having a relatively small Catholic population.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect for the Section of Evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization, accompanied Pope Francis on this historic journey.
Cardinal Tagle visited Carolus Hospital in Indonesia, where he celebrated Mass and prayed for the sick and healthcare workers.