Pope Francis began his 11-day tour of four island nations across Southeast Asia and Oceania on Tuesday, an ambitious endeavor that will bring him to faraway corners of the Roman Catholic world.
His first stop was Indonesia, a country made up of thousands of islands with the largest Muslim population in the world, as well as millions of people following other religions. There, Pope Francis talked about interfaith dialogue and coexistence, praising Indonesia for nurturing harmony between its different ethnicities, languages and religions, which he compared to the country’s rich ecological biodiversity.
After Indonesia, the pope was set to travel to Papua New Guinea, a largely Christian Pacific island, East Timor and Singapore.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Crowds waiting for the pope’s motorcade to approach on Wednesday.
Francis addressing the congregation at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, the Jakarta cathedral.
Pope Francis meeting President Joko Widodo of Indonesia.
Nuns watching for the pope’s arrival at the Jakarta cathedral.
Waving at the vehicle carrying Pope Francis near the Vatican Embassy.
A police officer patrolling in front of the Istiqlal Mosque, which is opposite the cathedral.
The pope and Mr. Widodo during a welcome ceremony for the pontiff.
The pope’s 11-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania will test his endurance.
Indonesians in ceremonial attire leading a procession welcoming the pope.
Jockeying for position to grab a picture.
A group of Papuans holding up signs featuring Bible verses during a protest at the Vatican Embassy calling for Francis to visit the Papua Province of Indonesia.
Audience members at the cathedral reaching out to touch Francis.