UIN Jakarta Rector: Welcome Pope Francis
Rectorate Building, UIN News Online- Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A. Ph.D. warmly welcomes the visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia in a series of apostolic trips to a number of Asian countries, starting from 6-9 September 2024. Rector Asep Jahar hopes that Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia and several other Asian countries will strengthen the joint commitment of religious communities in building tolerance and peace for humanity.
This was conveyed by Rector Asep Jahar in his written statement in the middle of his visit to Russia, Tuesday (3/9/2024). ‘Today, we are together witnessing a very important and historic event for the Indonesian people, namely the visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia. We, the entire academic family of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, welcome with joy and respect the visit of Pope Francis,’ he said.
Rector Asep Jahar said that Pope Francis' visit not only strengthens the relationship between the Catholic community and Indonesian society as a whole, but also symbolises the strengthening of tolerance values among religious communities in the country. ‘The presence of Pope Francis in Indonesia has a deep meaning for all of us, especially in an effort to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and strengthen our joint commitment in creating a peaceful humanitarian life,’ he said.
Indonesia, as a country with rich religious, cultural, and ethnic diversity, he explained, always strives to uphold the values of tolerance and harmony. ‘The visit of Pope Francis is a reminder and encouragement for us to continue to promote dialogue, mutual understanding, and interfaith cooperation,’ he added.
Furthermore, Rector Asep Jahar expressed his hope that Pope Francis' visit would become an important momentum for religious communities in Indonesia to further strengthen their joint commitment to maintaining peace and harmony. The visit is also expected to strengthen collaboration and solidarity in facing global challenges that affect human life, including poverty, injustice, environmental crises, and even war conflicts in a number of world regions.
The Rector also hopes that the values of love, compassion, and universal brotherhood that Pope Francis has always championed can be an inspiration for all religious communities in building a just, prosperous, and civilised society. ‘Finally, we would like to express our highest appreciation to Pope Francis for this precious visit. May his journey in Indonesia run smoothly and be full of blessings, and bring a positive impact on religious relations in Indonesia and the world,’ he concluded.
It is known that Pope Francis (the supreme leader of the world's Catholics) has arrived in Indonesia, today (Tuesday 3 September 2024). The Pope came to visit Indonesia on the agenda of an apostolic journey to several countries in Asia. The Pope is scheduled to be in Indonesia for three days, starting Tuesday, 3 September to Friday, 6 September 2024.
In Indonesia, Pope Francis is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Indonesian President Joko Widodo, visit the Istiqlal Mosque, meet with interfaith leaders, and meet with Catholics in Jakarta. The Pope will then visit Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore from 6-13 September 2024. (Press Release/Information Centre & Public Relations LP2M UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta)