Pope Francis Arrives in Indonesia to Begin Ambitious Asia-Pacific Tour

3/9/2024 13:12

        Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday for the first leg of an ambitious Asia-Pacific tour where he is expected to urge global action on climate change during what will be his longest trip yet.
        
        The 87-year-old pontiff landed at Jakarta's Soekarno–Hatta airport on a chartered ITA Airways flight also carrying his entourage and accompanying reporters.
        
        Francis will also visit East Timor, Singapore and Papua New Guinea over the next 10 days.
        
        Sitting in a wheelchair, Francis disembarked from the plane via a lift and was handed a bouquet of local produce by two children dressed in traditional Indonesian attire.
        
        On a red carpet flanked by honour guards, he was greeted by Indonesia's religious affairs minister, its ambassador to the Vatican and several of the country's bishops, before entering a waiting car, waving and smiling as it drove away.
        
        The ageing pope was not scheduled to attend any public events on Tuesday to allow time for him to rest after a 13-hour overnight flight from Rome.