VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Pope Francis visited the Youth Graha of the Jakarta Cathedral Church complex on Wednesday (04/09), (Photo : Kemenkomarves) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : In his historic visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis visited the Youth Graha of the Jakarta Cathedral Church complex on Wednesday (04/09) and issued an appeal to the world to protect the planet, just as Indonesia prepares to hold the 2024 Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF) organized by the Coordinating Ministry Maritime and Investment Sector and supported by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

More than 11,000 participants from 53 countries have registered to attend the Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF) 2024 which will be opened by President Joko Widodo on September 5.

Pope Francis is known as a staunch supporter of climate action and has urged world leaders to adhere to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

During his two-day visit to Indonesia, the Pope will lead a big mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) Jakarta in front of more than 80 thousand people. This visit marks the first visit by a Vatican leader to Indonesia in 35 years, after Pope John Paul II.

During his visit to the Cathedral, Pope Francis received mangrove tree seedlings from the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Pandjaitan, as a symbol of respect for the protection of biodiversity in Indonesia. Our island nation has the largest and most diverse mangrove ecosystem in the world with an area of ​​3.44 million hectares, covering around 23% of the world's total mangrove area. Stretching along the archipelago's coastlines, mangrove forests in Indonesia provide important support for local communities and the environment, including Carbon Sequestration, Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal Resilience, and Livelihoods.

“We are very grateful to Pope Francis for his commitment to advocating for climate action and sustainability. The message of hope and unity brought by Pope Francis is in line with Indonesia's commitment to pushing the sustainability agenda. "I believe his visit to Indonesia is a strong reminder of our shared responsibility to protect this planet for future generations," said Luhut.

Also present to witness the handover of mangrove tree seedlings to Pope Francis was the Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Arsjad Rasjid. “The climate crisis knows no borders or religions. Therefore, all parties need to join the global campaign to confront one of humanity's greatest crises. "In this context, religious communities, including Catholic Church leaders, play an important role in mobilizing public support for governments around the world to fulfill their commitments," said Arsjad.

Pope Francis plans to give his blessing to mangrove tree seedlings before distributing them to five locations throughout Indonesia: Jakarta, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan and North Sumatra.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday (04/09/24), Mangrove ecosystems around the world have been threatened in recent decades due to land use change, coastal development and pollution. It is hoped that today's symbolic movement can have a positive impact on the protection of mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia and throughout the world.

Pope Francis was originally scheduled to visit Indonesia in September 2020, but his visit was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His visit to Indonesia was part of a tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania which also included visits to Singapore, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea.

On Earth Day this year, Pope Francis wrote in a message on social media, "Our generation has inherited much wealth, but we have failed to protect the planet, and we have not safeguarded peace. We are called to be craftsmen and guardians of our common home, the Earth that is 'fall into ruin'//VOI