The visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia carries a powerful message for the nation, namely the importance of maintaining harmony amidst the diversity of the Indonesian people.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo warmly welcomed His Holiness Pope Francis to Indonesia, the country’s Cabinet Secretariat said in a written statement as quoted by Indonesia here on Thursday.

The president expressed his joy during his remarks at a meeting held at the State Palace in Capital Jakarta, Wednesday (Sept. 4) morning.

The event was attended by government officials, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic community.

“Our country, Indonesia, is delighted and honored to welcome Your Holiness Holy Father Pope Francis. I understand that this is the longest-haul flight Your Holiness has ever undertaken. Thank you, Your Holiness, for accepting our invitation to visit Indonesia,” the president said.

He emphasized that the visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia carries a powerful message for the nation, namely the importance of maintaining harmony amidst the diversity of the Indonesian people.

“This visit conveys a powerful message about the importance of celebrating diversity. Indonesia is a pluralistic nation, comprising various ethnic groups—I mentioned to His Holiness that Indonesia is home to 714 ethnic groups and 17,000 inhabited islands, each with its own distinct culture, religion, and ethnicity. We continually strive to maintain harmony within this diversity,” he stated.

The head of state underscored that tolerance is the foundation of unity and peace as a nation, adding that Indonesia’s Pancasila state ideology and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) enable its people to live in harmony regardless of their differences.

“This spirit of peace and tolerance is what Indonesia and the Vatican seek to promote, especially in this increasingly turbulent world. As we all know, conflicts and wars are occurring in various parts of the world, including in Palestine, which have claimed more than 40,000 lives,” he remarked.

On the occasion, the president also expressed his appreciation for the Vatican’s support for Palestinian aspirations of independence.

He stressed that war benefits no one and only brings suffering and misery to people.

“Indonesia deeply appreciates the Vatican’s consistent advocacy for peace in Palestine and its support for a two-state solution, as war benefits no one. It only brings suffering and hardship to the people,” he added.

He called on all Indonesians to continue nurturing diversity and fortifying tolerance to achieve global peace.

“Let us celebrate the differences we have. Let us accept one another and fortify tolerance to achieve peace and create a better world for all mankind,” he concluded.

Reporting by Indonesia Window