POPE FRANCIS TO VISIT INDONESIA TO CONNECT MOSQUES AND CATHEDRALS VIA ‘TUNNEL OF FRIENDSHIP’

Sun 01 September 2024:

Pope Francis will next week visit Indonesia, making a symbolic stop at a mosque that has the “Tunnel of Friendship,” an extraordinary tunnel linking it to the city’s Catholic cathedral.

This visit is part of the pope’s 12-day Asia-Pacific tour.

The “Tunnel of Friendship,” measures 28.3 meters, and it connects Southeast Asia’s largest Mosque, the Istiqlal Mosque, with the Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral.

It was built in 2020 by the Indonesian government as a symbol of religious unity, a cause close to Pope Francis’s heart throughout his 11-year papacy.

Pope’s Asia-Pacific tour

Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia marks the beginning of the longest trip of his papacy.

His itinerary, as per Reuters, also includes Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.

The long tour with its demanding schedule, as per the report, has raised concerns about his health.

During his Jakarta visit, Pope Francis will attend an interfaith meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque and tour the tunnel, which features art inscribed on its walls and windows allowing natural light. While the tunnel is not yet open to the public, it symbolizes the harmony between the two faiths.

Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, expressed his enthusiasm: “It’s extraordinary that the Catholics’ number one figure is coming,” adding, “Whatever your religion is, let’s respect our guest.”

Rev. Thomas Ulun Ismoyo, an Indonesian church official, said that the Pope will meet outgoing President Joko Widodo and hold a mass service. The gathering, at a Jakarta stadium, is expected to draw over 80,000 attendees.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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