Pope Francis Praises Indonesian Families as a Model for National Development

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: During a historic visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, commended Indonesian families with multiple children, highlighting them as exemplary for the nation’s future development. The Pope’s remarks were made during a meeting with Indonesian government officials, the diplomatic corps, and community leaders at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

“People who believe they can ask for God’s blessing… I am hearing that families here still have three to four children, and this is a good example for the country,” Pope Francis stated, speaking in Latin. The Pope emphasized that families with children are vital for the future prosperity and growth of any country.

In his address, Pope Francis also contrasted the situation in Indonesia with trends observed in other countries, where citizens increasingly prefer pets over having children. “Many countries no longer want to have children but have pets,” he noted, underscoring his concern about declining birth rates in certain parts of the world.

President Joko Widodo, seated beside the Pope, responded to the remarks with a warm smile and a nod of agreement. The sentiment was echoed by other high-ranking officials in attendance, including Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Bambang Soesatyo and House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani, both of whom were seen smiling at the Pope’s words.

Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia marks a significant moment in his Asia-Oceania apostolic journey, which is his longest to date since assuming the papacy 11 years ago. The journey, scheduled from September 3 to 13, includes visits to Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore in addition to Indonesia.

During his stay in Indonesia, which lasts until September 6, Pope Francis is set to participate in various key events, including an interfaith dialogue at Istiqlal Mosque and a grand mass at Jakarta Cathedral. His visit is particularly noteworthy as he is the third Vatican head of state to visit Indonesia, following Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1989.

Indonesia, despite being a Muslim-majority country, is home to approximately 8.5 million Catholics who coexist peacefully with people of other faiths, a testament to the nation’s religious harmony. The Pope’s decision to include Indonesia in his itinerary reflects the country’s significant role in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding.