Pope urges Indonesia to live up to promise of ‘harmony in diversity’

The Pope was in fine spirits during the first day of the tour (AP)

Pope Francis urged Indonesia to live up to its promise of “harmony in diversity” and fight religious intolerance, as he set a rigorous pace for an 11-day, four-nation trip through tropical south-east Asia and Oceania.

Despite the gruelling itinerary, an energetic Francis joked and laughed his way through a packed first full day in Indonesia, meeting with outgoing President Joko Widodo and other Indonesian officials at the presidential palace and then greeting Catholic priests, nuns and seminarians at Jakarta’s main cathedral in the afternoon.