Pope Francis has been visiting Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population. Catholics make up only 3 percent of the country's 280 million people.

The 87-year old pontiff arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday, the first stop on his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour. It's his longest trip since he became pope in 2013, and marks his 45th apostolic journey abroad.

Indonesia's previous papal visit was more than three decades ago, when Pope John Paul II went there in 1989.

Pope Francis met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday. The pontiff praised Indonesia's religious and cultural diversity.

"Harmony is achieved within diversity when particular perspectives take into account the needs shared by all, and when each ethnic group and religious denomination acts in a spirit of fraternity, pursuing the noble goal of serving the common good," Pope Francis said.

Indonesian President Joko said the meeting was significant for celebrating Indonesia's diversity, and fostering peace around the world.

"For Indonesia, diversity is a blessing, and tolerance is the foundation of unity and peace as a nation," Joko said.

"This spirit of peace and tolerance is what Indonesia and the Vatican wish to spread, especially in a world that is increasingly turbulent," the president said.

Joko also conveyed his gratitude for the Vatican's continued advocacy for peace in Palestine, as well as its support for the two-state solution in that region. He said war benefits no one, and only brings suffering and hardship to ordinary people.

Pope Francis will celebrate a grand mass on Thursday, which about 70,000 Catholics from across the country are expected to attend.

He is scheduled to leave Indonesia on Friday, and will head to Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore before flying back to Rome on September 13.