Pope Francis has arrived in Jakarta, marking the beginning of his 45th Apostolic Journey abroad and the longest of his papacy to date. After a 13-hour flight, the ITA-Airways papal plane touched down at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta at 11:19 AM local time, arriving slightly ahead of schedule. The flight had departed from Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport at 5:32 PM local time on Monday.

Onboard, Pope Francis took time to personally greet the journalists traveling with him. Upon arrival, he was warmly received in Jakarta. His schedule for Tuesday is light, with no public events planned, but starting Wednesday, he will engage in a series of appointments as part of his busy 12-day visit.

Pope Francis will spend three nights in Jakarta before continuing his journey through Asia and Oceania, which includes Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore. This Apostolic Journey is notable for its length and significance, with Pope expected to be welcomed by Cardinals in each destination—three of whom were appointed Cardinals by Pope Francis himself.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country with nearly 17,000 islands and diverse cultures, has previously hosted two Popes: Pope St. Paul VI in 1970 and Pope St. John Paul II in 1989. With Catholics constituting about 3% of the population, the Pope's visit underscores Indonesia’s reputation for tolerance and coexistence. Pope Francis, who authored the encyclical Fratelli tutti on human fraternity, will likely focus on promoting interreligious dialogue and human fraternity during his stay. In Jakarta, he will participate in an interreligious meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque and celebrate Mass for the local Catholic community. Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta has highlighted the unique nature of interfaith relationships in Indonesia, where mixed-faith marriages and religious diversity are more common compared to other Muslim-majority nations.

Following in the footsteps of Pope St. John Paul II, who visited Papua New Guinea in 1984, Pope Francis is returning to a nation where one in three individuals is Catholic. Pope’s visit will address concerns about natural disasters and poverty exacerbated by climate change, with a focus on providing support to those affected. In Port Moresby, the capital, he will celebrate a Papal Mass and meet with children from street ministry and Callan services at Caritas Technical Secondary School. Additionally, he will travel to Vanimo to meet with missionaries and local faithful.

Pope Francis will then travel to Timor Leste, the most Catholic nation in Asia, where over 96% of the population is Catholic. His visit comes 35 years after Pope St. John Paul II's visit during Indonesian occupation. With the motto "May Faith Be Your Culture," Pope Francis will celebrate Mass, visit children with disabilities, and meet with Jesuits. Cardinal Virgilio do Carmo da Silva of Dili, who was appointed the country’s first Cardinal by Pope Francis in August 2022, has emphasized the need to address the challenges faced by young people leaving the country due to poverty and unemployment.

The final leg of the journey will take Pope Francis to Singapore, a prominent international business hub. Catholics make up about 6% of Singapore’s population, totaling approximately 395,000 faithful. Despite the small percentage, Cardinal William Goh, Singapore’s first-ever Cardinal, noted the strong presence and active engagement of the Catholic community. In Singapore, the Pope will hold an interreligious meeting with young people at Catholic Junior College and celebrate Mass.