Today, Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta. However, instead of using a private jet, Pope Francis has chosen to fly on Alitalia, now managed by ITA Airways, for this trip.
Another noteworthy aspect of Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia is the release of a series of special postage stamps by the Indonesian government the day before his arrival in Jakarta. These stamps are designed to commemorate the three-day visit of the Catholic Church's highest leader.
Special Stamps Unveiled for Pope Francis' Visit
On September 2, the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) and PT Pos Indonesia launched special stamps with the theme "Pope Francis' Visit to Indonesia" at the Plaza Maria Cathedral in Jakarta.
Gunawan Hutagalung, Director of Postal Services and Director General of Postal and Informatics Administration at the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, mentioned that the stamps will be blessed by Pope Francis during the Mass at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK). "Stamps, as national ambassadors, play an important role in marking Indonesia's history," he said.
The stamps will be available in denominations of 3,500 and 40,000. A sheet of the 3,500 denomination, which contains 18 stamps, will be priced at Rp63,000 (about $4), with 4,000 sheets available.
At the same time, Indonesia is preparing for Pope Francis' arrival with large billboards and life-size cutouts of the Pope.
In central Jakarta, a billboard reading "Welcome Pope Francis" with the slogan "Faith, Fraternity, Compassion" has been installed. In addition, signs featuring the Pope and religious images created by schoolchildren have also been put up.
Read also: Get Ready: Pope Francis to Arrive in Indonesia for Apostolic Visit
Historical Line of Papal Visits to Indonesia
For additional information, Pope Francis is the third pope to visit Indonesia. The first was Pope Paul VI on December 3-4, 1970, followed by Pope John Paul II on October 9-14, 1989. During both visits, PT Pos Indonesia also issued special stamp series.
Now, after 35 years, Pope Francis will make an Apostolic Journey to Indonesia from September 3-6, 2024.
Read also: Official Logo and Motto for Pope Francis' Southeast Asia and Oceania Trip
Key Dates and Events for Pope Francis in Jakarta
Pope Francis will embark on the longest and farthest journey of his papacy, spending three nights in Jakarta during a 12-day trip before traveling on to Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.
On September 4, Pope Francis will meet with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, have a private meeting with the Jesuit community at the Vatican Embassy, and engage with Scolas Occurentes at the Jakarta Youth Center. On the same day, he will also address bishops, priests, deacons, religious, seminarians and catechists at the Jakarta Cathedral.
On September 5, Pope Francis will hold an interfaith meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque, meet with beneficiaries of charitable organizations at the KWI Jakarta office, and celebrate the Eucharist at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia will conclude on September 6, 2024, before he travels to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
