Pope will visit the Istiqlal mosque in Indonesia on the first stop of an interfaith Asian trip

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — When Pope Francis begins his Asia tour next week, one of his early stops will be at Indonesia's iconic Istiqlal mosque.

The 87-year-old head of the Catholic Church will hold an interfaith meeting with representatives of the country's six officially recognized religions as the populous Southeast Asian nation faces growing challenges to its tolerant image.

Francis, who has suffered a slew of health problems and has become increasingly reliant on a wheelchair, has a rigorous schedule during his four-nation visit. He will start his trip in Jakarta on Sept. 3, where he will meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

In Istiqlal mosque, the Argentine Jesuit, known for promoting religious dialogue, will meet delegates of Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism. Indonesia’s constitution recognizes the latter two as separate religions. About 87% of the country’s 280 million people are Muslim, however, it has the third-largest Christian population in Asia after the Philippines and China. Only 2.9% of the total population is Catholic.

The mosque of Istiqlal, which means independence in Arabic, is the largest in Southeast Asia, covering over 22 acres (9 hectares). Its name is a constant reminder of the country’s fight against Dutch colonialists who ruled it for nearly 350 years. Across from the mosque lies the Roman Catholic neo-Gothic Our Lady of The Assumption Cathedral in Jakarta. The proximity of the two houses of worship is symbolic of how religions can peacefully coexist, according to official websites.

The mosque and cathedral are linked by an underpass known as the “Tunnel of Friendship,” about 28 meters (91 feet) in length and molded after a handshake gesture to symbolize religious tolerance. The pope is expected to walk through the tunnel.

Istiqlal mosque’s Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar told The Associated Press that Francis choosing Indonesia as the first stop of his Asian visit makes “the Muslim community proud.” He also said they will use the pope’s visit “to discuss the common ground between religious communities and emphasize the commonalities between religions, ethnicities and beliefs.”

Umar acknowledged that an “increasingly plural society” like Indonesia can face more challenges, “but we need to know we live together under God.”

While Indonesia's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, over the past several years, its perception as a moderate Muslim nation has been undermined by flaring intolerance, from the imprisonment of Jakarta’s Christian governor for blasphemy, which resulted in a series of protests in 2016, to the canings of gay men in Aceh, a province that practices its version of Islamic Shariah law. There were also reports of violence against religious minorities, and some faith groups have been unable to secure building permits for places of worship.

Meanwhile, Cantika Syamsinur, a 23-year-old college student who had just finished praying in Istiqlal mosque and was on her way to the cathedral, said she welcomed the pope's visit and the interfaith meeting. “There are many religions in Indonesia and I hope we respect each other.”

Francis will be the third pope to visit Indonesia. The trip was originally planned for 2020 but was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Four years of waiting is quite long," said Susyana Suwadie who heads the cathedral's museum, adding she was overwhelmed by emotions as she awaited the pope's visit. “This important historic moment is finally happening.”

Some are hopeful the pope's interreligious meeting will propel changes on a grassroots level.

Thomas Ulun Ismoyo, a Catholic Priest who is also the spokesperson for the Pope Francis Visitation Committee in Indonesia, said that religious leaders in Indonesia play a very significant role because the masses listen to them. He said he hopes the pope's visit “will lead to something good" and advocate for a better world where humanity and social justice are prized.

Andi Zahra Alifia Masdar, a 19-year-old college student in Jakarta, concurred: “We can be more accepting of each other, more tolerant, and able to live side by side, not always clashing."

A man walks in the shade at Istiqlal Mosque as the spires of the Our Lady of The Assumption Cathedral are seen in the background, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

A man uses his mobile phone to take photos outside Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, where Pope Francis is scheduled to hold an interfaith meeting on Sept. 5. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Indonesian students wait for the start of Friday prayers at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

A man stands at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, where Pope Francis is scheduled to hold an interfaith meeting on Sept. 5. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

A man walks at Istiqlal Mosque after Friday prayers in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Muslim men leave after Friday prayers at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Muslim men perform Friday prayer at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Muslim men attend Friday prayer at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, where Pope Francis is scheduled to hold an interfaith meeting on Sept. 5. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball teams will have advertising on their helmets during the postseason.

MLB said Friday it reached a deal for the postseason ads through 2027 with Strauss, a German apparel company that entered the U.S. market last year.

Ads of 5-by-0.92 inches (12.7-by-2.3 centimeters) will be on each side of every helmet featuring “STRAUSS” in capital letters in white alongside the company's ostrich logo silhouetted by a red square, with an alternate color for red helmets.

Strauss also will appear on the helmets of the 120 affiliated minor league teams from 2025-27.

MLB previously had helmet ads in select international games dating to at least 2000 and has allowed jersey ads since 2023. The general use of ads was agreed to by the players' association in the 2022 labor contract, and 23 of the 30 teams have jersey patch ads.

Engelbert Strauss GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1948.

Major League Soccer became the first of the major North American leagues to allow jersey ads in 2007. The NBA started selling sponsorship logos for the 2017-18 season, and the NHL launched helmet ads for the 2020-21 season and began jersey advertising the following season.

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

This image provided by Major League Baseball shows Strauss branded batting helmets taken at Major League Baseball Headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (Mary DeCicco/Major League Baseball via AP)