Pope Francis begins historic Asia-Pacific tour in Indonesia: Video
Pope Francis arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 3 starting a landmark 12-day journey through the Asia-Pacific region, the longest and farthest of his papacy.
At 87, the pope was greeted with a wheelchair escort, a bouquet from local children, and a modest Toyota vehicle.
The journey includes stops in Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. Despite the lengthy flight from Rome, Pope Francis appeared upbeat, expressing gratitude for the journey. “I think it is the longest one (flight) I have done,” he said.
His three-day visit to Indonesia is focused on promoting inter-religious dialogue. On Wednesday, he will meet with President Joko Widodo, who called the visit “historic” and emphasized the shared commitment to peace and brotherhood between Indonesia and the Vatican, AFP reported.
