"This is indeed an honor for the Indonesian nation," Qoumas said in a statement from his office on Sunday, as reported by Antara.
He added that President Joko Widodo has been waiting for Pope Francis to come to Indonesia. Quomas recalled that he had personally delivered the president's letter to Francis on June 8, 2022, inviting him to visit Indonesia.
"Praise be to God, after almost two years of waiting, Pope Francis will finally visit Indonesia. I believe this will be a special moment, especially for all Catholics," the minister said.
Francis had earlier planned to visit Indonesia, but it was canceled due to the pandemic. He hoped that during his visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis will observe and experience cultural diversity and religious harmony among various faiths in Indonesia.
"Indonesia can maintain tolerance and peace among various faiths, including local faiths. We hope Pope Francis can personally observe the diversity in Indonesia," Qoumas remarked. (Antara)
