Pope Francis concluded his visit to Indonesia by celebrating Mass in front of a crowd of 100,000 people before heading to Papua New Guinea for the next part of his 11-day journey in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The 87-year-old pope had no official events on his last day in Indonesia except for a farewell ceremony before flying to Port Moresby for a six-hour flight. The visit in Jakarta culminated in a joyous Mass attended by thousands of people filling two sports stadiums and spilling into a parking lot.
During the Mass, Pope Francis encouraged the attendees, saying, “Don’t tire of dreaming and of building a civilization of peace. Be builders of hope. Be builders of peace.” The Vatican had anticipated 60,000 attendees, while local authorities in Indonesia had predicted 80,000, yet more than 100,000 people were reported to have attended the Mass. One attendee, Vienna Frances Florensius Basol from Malaysia, expressed gratitude for being able to witness the event despite not being able to enter the stadium.
In Indonesia, Pope Francis aimed to uplift the 8.9 million Catholics in the country while emphasizing interfaith relations in the nation with the largest Muslim population globally. In a significant moment, the pope, alongside the grand imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, signed a joint declaration to combat religious violence and safeguard the environment.
In Papua New Guinea, the focus of Francis’ visit aligns more with his social justice priorities, given that the nation is home to over 10 million people, predominantly subsistence farmers. The pope’s visit is expected to strengthen the faith of Catholics in the region, with the highlight being a trip to remote Vanimo, where missionaries from Argentina are spreading Catholicism among tribal communities with diverse traditions.
Papua New Guinea, known for its rich cultural diversity and delicate ecosystem, faces challenges such as tribal conflicts over land and the impact of climate change. The country endured a devastating landslide in May, attributing it to extreme rainfall, resulting in a high number of casualties. Pope Francis is anticipated to address issues of tribal harmony and environmental conservation during his visit.
This visit marks only the second time a pope has traveled to Papua New Guinea, with the last visit by St. John Paul II in 1984. Francis will continue his journey to East Timor and Singapore before returning to the Vatican on Sept. 13.
