Holiday Ayo - Pope Francis will not only meet President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of his series of activities during his visit to Indonesia on September 3-6 2024. 

The Minister of Religion (Menag), Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, revealed that there was a meeting on the agenda between the highest leader of Catholics in the world and the elected president, Prabowo Subianto. 

Yaqut conveyed this when giving a press statement after welcoming the arrival of Pope Francis at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Tuesday (3/9). 

“It is planned that way. Later there will be a meeting with the elected president (Prabowo Subianto) in one meeting," said Yaqut, quoted from Kompas TV's YouTube broadcast, Tuesday (3/9). 

However, Yaqut did not explain in detail the time and place of the meeting between the two. Regarding the technicalities of the meeting, he said to ask directly about the state protocol. 

“There was, there was (a meeting). I saw the rundown but I don't remember it, but there was indeed a meeting with the president-elect," he said. 

Apart from that, Pope Francis' meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled for Wednesday (4/9).

During the meeting, Pope Francis and President Jokowi will discuss tolerance between religious groups. 

“He (Pope Francis) conveyed the message that it is important for us to maintain interfaith dialogue because interfaith dialogue is the key to tolerance and world peace," said Yaqut.

“I think this is also something that will be discussed with President Jokowi tomorrow," he continued. 

Apart from that, Yaqut said the two leaders of the country would discuss global issues.

“I can't predict what he will talk about tomorrow, but I'm sure because I said earlier that he is also a leader of a country apart from being a leader of the people, he will definitely also update all issues related to global developments," said Yaqut. 

Furthermore, Yaqut said that the meeting between Pope Francis and President Jokowi was a form of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

“Well, perhaps cooperation and the most important thing in my opinion of all this process is strengthening relations between Indonesia and the Vatican," he explained.