By Kasmir Nema
In a historic gesture coinciding with Pope Francis’s Apostolic Visit to Indonesia, the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI), in collaboration with PT Pos Indonesia, has unveiled a special stamp themed “Pope Francis’s Visit to Indonesia.”
JAKARTA, Indonesia — During the launch event at Jakarta Cathedral on Monday, September 2, 2024, Archbishop of Jakarta, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, expressed the significance of this stamp for the Catholic Church in Indonesia.
“The issuance of this stamp is a great honor for the Catholic Church, especially here in Indonesia,” he stated.
Cardinal Suharyo hopes that the special stamp will be widely distributed across the country, carrying with it a deeper message.
“We hope that not only the stamp itself will spread, but also the message behind it—showcasing the government’s role in supporting the Catholic Church in Indonesia and celebrating the presence of Pope Francis, marking the third papal visit in our history,” he elaborated.
He further expressed the hope that Pope Francis’s visit would inspire individuals to strengthen their faith.
“Our aspiration is for this visit to help us grow into a nation with stronger faith, fostering fraternity that goes beyond words and manifests in concrete actions, bringing us closer to the aspirations of our nation,” Cardinal Suharyo added.
Preparations Near Completion
On the same occasion, Ignasius Jonan, Chairman of the Pope Francis Visit Committee in Indonesia, provided updates on the preparations for the Pope’s arrival, scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
“Everything is nearly complete, with only a few minor details left to finalize. We are deeply grateful to everyone involved, particularly our partners in government, the military and police, and various ministries, including the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, which collaborated on issuing this special stamp,” Jonan shared.
He also expressed gratitude for the widespread support and requested prayers for the success of the event.
“We are thankful for all forms of support—permits, financial contributions, spiritual backing, and the efforts of media friends. It is remarkable that around 800 media outlets have registered to cover this significant event,” Jonan concluded.
The Vatican News reported that the papal plane departed from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport at 5:32 PM, on September 2, marking the beginning of Pope Francis’s 45th Apostolic Journey abroad.
This 12-day visit to four countries in Asia and Oceania is the longest journey the Pope has undertaken during his papacy.
For Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, Pope Francis will become the third pontiff to visit, following in the footsteps of his predecessors.
This visit underscores the importance of interfaith dialogue and the Pope’s commitment to fostering peace and understanding across diverse cultures and religions.
