Pope Francis concluded his visit to Indonesia after leading Mass for an audience of 100,000 people, marking the end of his time in Jakarta before traveling to Papua New Guinea for the next phase of his 11-day journey in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Following a packed schedule in Jakarta, the 87-year-old pontiff had a lighter day with only a farewell ceremony and a flight to Port Moresby.
During the visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis encouraged the country’s 8.9 million Catholics, a minority in the population, to continue building a civilization of peace. In a significant moment, Francis and the grand imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque signed a joint declaration to combat religious violence and preserve the environment, emphasizing interfaith collaboration in the nation with the world’s largest Muslim population.
In Papua New Guinea, the focus of Francis’ visit aligns with his social justice priorities, aiming to address issues faced by the country’s 10 million residents, mostly subsistence farmers. The pope plans to visit remote areas like Vanimo to support Catholic missionaries from his home country and promote harmony among tribal groups, confronting challenges stemming from tribal conflicts and climate change threats.
The visit to Papua New Guinea holds historical significance as Francis becomes only the second pope to visit the country, following St. John Paul II’s trip in 1984. Addressing the fragile ecosystem, tribal conflicts, and the need for sustainable development are expected themes during the visit to the South Pacific nation, which has a diverse Indigenous population and a rich natural environment at risk of exploitation.
The trip to Papua New Guinea is part of a larger four-nation tour, with upcoming visits to East Timor and Singapore before the pontiff returns to the Vatican on September 13. The visit underscores the pope’s commitment to engaging with diverse communities, promoting peace, and advocating for environmental protection and social justice on a global scale.
