Pope Francis is set to visit Indonesia’s iconic Istiqlal Mosque as part of his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, aimed at promoting interfaith harmony.
The 28.3-meter “Tunnel of Friendship,” connecting the Istiqlal Mosque with the Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, was constructed by the government in 2020 as a symbol of religious unity—an important theme that the Pope has consistently highlighted during his 11-year papacy.
At 87 years old, Pope Francis will arrive in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, on Tuesday, marking the first stop of his longest trip as Pope, which also includes visits to Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. Concerns have been raised about his health, given the demanding schedule.
During his stay, the Pope will participate in an interfaith meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, and visit the tunnel, which features light-filtering windows and inscribed artwork but has not yet been opened to the public.
“It’s extraordinary that the leading figure of the Catholic Church is visiting,” said Nasaruddin Umar, the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, which often opens its vast parking lot to churchgoers during major events. “Whatever your religion, let’s show respect to our guest.”
In Indonesia, Catholics make up only about 3% of the 280 million population, while nearly 90% are Muslim.
Pope Francis is also scheduled to meet outgoing President Joko Widodo and lead a mass at a Jakarta stadium, which is expected to draw over 80,000 attendees, according to Rev. Thomas Ulun Ismoyo, an Indonesian church official.
The visit has generated excitement among Indonesian Catholics, who have not experienced a papal visit in over three decades.
Indonesia has hosted two papal visits in the past: Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1989, who visited Jakarta and four other cities.
