Summary
Pope Francis lands in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, kicking off a historic trip to the Asia Pacific region
He will also travel to Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore as part of his visit, which is expected to focus on inter-religious harmony
The 12-day trip will mark the longest time the pontiff has spent away from the Vatican
The marathon trip comes despite the fact that the 87-year-old has been battling health problems and using a wheelchair in recent months
Asia Pacific is one of only a few places in the world where the Catholic Church is growing in terms of baptised faithful and religious vocations
Live Reporting
Edited by Gavin Butler
Pausing live coveragepublished at 08:31 British Summer Time 3 September
08:31 BST 3 September
We're winding down our live coverage of Pope Francis' arrival in Indonesia now. Thanks for joining.
This live page was brought to you by me, Gavin Butler, and my colleagues Kelly Ng and Nick Marsh in Singapore.
We'll be bringing you more updates of the Pope's travels around Asia Pacific in the coming days.
Visit a symbol of 'interfaith dialogue'published at 08:30 British Summer Time 3 September
08:30 BST 3 September
The Pope's visit is a chance for Indonesia to showcase its credentials as a moderate Muslim-majority country, according to some observers.
"Interfaith dialogue has been going on in Indonesia for many years, and many people have been actively involved in that," Matius Ho, executive director of Leimena Institute, a Christian group in Indonesia, told BBC Newsday.
Nevertheless, there are some in Indonesia who hope the Pope will speak up on behalf of the religious minorities within the country who say that they feel the government does not do enough to protect them from persecution.
On the side of the Vatican, the trip is an opportunity to highlight the global importance of Islamic-Christian dialogue, according to Michel Chambon, a theologian and anthropologist at the National University of Singapore.
"[The visit] is not simply regional," Chambon told the BBC. "It is much more a global statement to reaffirm the universal possibility for Christian-Muslim fraternal engagement."
‘The mere sight of the Pope’s hat heals me’: residents welcome Francispublished at 07:44 British Summer Time 3 September
07:44 BST 3 September
Hanna Samosir
Reporting from Jakarta
A number of Jakarta residents welcomed Pope Francis at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport on Tuesday. And despite many only seeing the car carrying Francis from a distance, they were thrilled.
“The mere sight of the Pope’s hat heals me,” said Yohana Victoria, 47, while waving at Francis’ car passing across the street.
Victoria made a point of leaving her house near the airport at 8:30am so she could see Francis, as she could not attend the grand mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
“I am very grateful that the Pope can still come to Indonesia to bring a mission of peace, tolerance, love, and forgiveness,” she said.
Heru Purwanta, 69, also went out of his way to travel 26.5 km from his house to the airport just to see Francis’ arrival.
“I really wanted to see it because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. "I really want to see Pope Francis because he has a lot of influence on the world."
Climate change and geopolitics are on the Pope's agendapublished at 07:25 British Summer Time 3 September
07:25 BST 3 September
Davide Ghiglione
Reporting from Vatican CityPope Francis' visit to Indonesia underscores the Catholic Church's concern for a region that is both rich in natural and mineral resources and increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical struggles. Indonesia is a focal point in the global race for control over key commodities, such as nickel, the most important metal used for batteries of electric vehicles. This has made parts of the country battlegrounds for influence and exploitation.
Indonesia is also acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which is exacerbating issues such as deforestation, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. These environmental crises threaten both the livelihoods of millions and the very ecosystems that sustain the country's rich biodiversity. Pope Francis, a vocal advocate for environmental stewardship, is expected to address these urgent issues during his visit.
The Pope's agenda in Indonesia will likely emphasise the need for sustainable development practices that protect both people and the environment. By advocating for the responsible management of Indonesia's natural resources and highlighting the ethical dimensions of climate change, Pope Francis is positioning the Catholic Church as a moral voice in the ongoing struggle for a just and sustainable future.
What's on the Pope's itinerary?published at 07:20 British Summer Time 3 September
07:20 BST 3 September
Let's take a closer look at Francis' itinerary for this ambitious four-nation trip.
He has just arrived in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, where he will spend three days. During that time he'll visit the main mosque, meet with outgoing president Joko Widodo, and hold a mass for some 70,000 people.
Francis' next stop is Papua New Guinea. There, he will travel to the remote, poverty-wracked city of Vanimo to meet with missionaries from his native Argentina who have been reaching out to tribal communities.
Then, in Timor-Leste, Francis will officiate mass in the capital Dili, on the same seaside esplanade where John Paul II spoke in 1989 to comfort local Catholics who suffered under Indonesian occupation.
Finally, the Pope will wrap up his trip in Singapore, where he will celebrate mass at the 55,000-seater National Stadium.
He will travel back to Rome on 13 September.
Why is he travelling to Asia Pacific?published at 07:03 British Summer Time 3 September
07:03 BST 3 September
Image source, Getty ImagesSince his election in 2013, Francis has urged the Catholic Church to bring God's comfort "toward the periphery" - referring to communities who are marginalised or far away.
Some observers suggest he chose to visit these four island nations to demonstrate that resolve.
Francis has for the past decade been increasing his engagements with Asia Pacific, a fast-growing region.
Just over a year into his pontificate, he made four long-distance trips to the continent: to South Korea, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Japan. Only 0.5% of Japan's population identified as Catholic at the time.
Other Asian countries Francis has visited include Bangladesh, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
He has reportedly sought meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but to no avail. No pope has been able to visit China to date, as relations between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party have been strained by disputes over who can appoint bishops in the country.
'A humble person' - How Indonesian media has portrayed the visitpublished at 06:27 British Summer Time 3 September
06:27 BST 3 September
Organisers in Indonesia have emphasised that Francis' visit will not be luxurious.
"He will take an ordinary car, not a luxury car, not a bulletproof car," said Antonius Gregorius, a media coordinator on the organising committee.
His main vehicle will be a Toyota Kijiang Innova Zenix, "a car that the common Indonesians use", CNN Indonesia reported, citing Mr Gregorious.
Mr Gregorious also stressed that Francis flew on Italy's national carrier, ITA Airways, rather than in a private jet.
Nor will the Pope be staying in a luxury hotel, said the chairman of the organising committee Ignasius Jonan, adding that Francis is a "humble person". He will instead reside at the Vatican Embassy in Indonesia.
In pictures: Pope Francis kicks off first leg of Asia Pacific tourpublished at 06:09 British Summer Time 3 September
06:09 BST 3 September
Here's a look at the Pope getting a warm welcome as he touches down in Indonesia, the first stop of his four-nation tour in the Asia Pacific.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage source, ReutersImage source, Getty ImagesImage source, EPAIndonesia steps up security for visitpublished at 05:48 British Summer Time 3 September
05:48 BST 3 September
Image source, EPAIndonesia has tightened security in the lead-up to Francis' arrival, with 9,000 police and military officials to be deployed throughout his four-day visit.
Francis is only the third pope to visit Indonesia, which has the largest population of Muslims globally.
He arrived in Jakarta at around 11:30am local time (04:30 GMT).
During his stay in Indonesia, he will visit the capital city's main mosque, meet with outgoing president Joko Widodo, and hold a mass for some 70,000 people.
A reminder that you can watch the livestream of his arrival by clicking the play button above.
Image source, EPAWhy is the Pope visiting Indonesia?published at 05:34 British Summer Time 3 September
05:34 BST 3 September
Hanna Samosir
Reporting from JakartaObservers say Francis' visit to Indonesia highlights his interest to deepen dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities.
"For the longest time, there [have been] tensions. [Both groups have had] misunderstandings over the course of history," said Jonathan Tan, a religious studies expert at the Case Western Reserve University in the US.
"I think what the Pope wants to dois to do a new way forward, a new way of relating to one another, not adefensive way," he said.
More than 87% of Indonesia's population, or about 242 million people, are Muslims. Catholics make up just 3% of the country's population.
Ignatius Suharyo, the Archbishop of Jakarta, said Pope Francis wants to live up to the legacy of Francis of Assisi, the 13th-Century saint whose name he adopted in 2013.
"Francis of Assisi crossed the battlefield to meet with one of theMuslim leaders there. So that character... is something [Pope Francis] wants to embody and show," Suharyo said.
Image source, Getty ImagesPope Francis arrives in Indonesiapublished at 05:24 British Summer Time 3 September
05:24 BST 3 SeptemberBreaking
Pope Francis has landed at Jakarta's Soekarno–Hattaairport for the first leg of his 12-day trip to Asia and Oceania.
He arrived on a chartered flight, accompanied by his entourage and international reporters.
Watch live coverage of Pope's arrivalpublished at 05:19 British Summer Time 3 September
05:19 BST 3 September
You can watch live footage of the Pope's arrival by clicking the play button above.
A physical test for an ailing Popepublished at 05:03 British Summer Time 3 September
05:03 BST 3 September
Image source, Getty ImagesThis trip is sure to be challenging for Pope Francis, who turns 88 in December and has been battling a spate ofhealth issues.
Concerns have been raised over the impact of such an ambitious itinerary on his ailing health. He will be accompanied by a doctor and two nurses throughout his travels.
No other pope has made an international trip at this age. Francis's immediate predecessor Benedict XVI resigned at 85, while John Paul II last travelled abroad at the age of 84 - a year before he died.
Francis, who had partof one lung removed in his younger days, has struggled with respiratoryand mobility problems of late, some of which have led him to miss his weekly Sundayblessings.
In November last year, hecancelled his trip to the annual United Nations climate meeting COP28 in Dubai because of a lung inflammation.
He's been getting around in a wheelchair since 2022 due to a knee fracture and strained ligaments.
What to expect from Pope Francis' ambitious Asia Pacific tourpublished at 05:01 British Summer Time 3 September
05:01 BST 3 September
Pope Francis is expected to discuss environmental concernsand the importance of interfaith dialogue during his 12-day trip to South East Asia. Notably, Timor-Leste is the onlyone of the four countries that is predominantly Catholic.
This trip also reinforces the importance of Asia for the Catholic Church, according to observers. The region is one of only a few places in the world where the church's presence is growing in terms of baptised faithful and religious vocations.
Parts of Francis' trip retraces the steps of St John Paul II, who also visited the four nations duringhis 27-year pontificate.
"Today I begin anApostolic Journey to several countries in Asia and Oceania. Please pray thatthis journey may bear fruit," Francis wrote on X on Monday.
Welcome to our coveragepublished at 04:58 British Summer Time 3 September
04:58 BST 3 September
Gavin Butler
Live editorWelcome to our live coverage of Pope Francis' visit to South East Asia - the longest and farthest trip of his tenure.
The pontiff is expected to be greeted with much fanfare when he arrives in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta in half an hour. Although the country is home to the world's largest Muslim population, about 3% of its 270 million people are Catholic - and Francis is the third pope to visit the country.
While there, he's expected to meet with outgoing president Joko Widodo, visit Jakarta's main mosque and hold a mass for some 70,000 people.
He will then travel to Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore, headlining more than 40 events as part of a trip that was originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 12-day trip will mark the longest time the pontiff has spent away from the Vatican.
Stay with us as we give you updates from his arrival.
