Additional Coverage:
- Pope heads to Papua New Guinea after final Mass in Indonesia before an overflow crowd of 100,000 (newsbreak.com)
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Pope Francis concluded his Indonesian visit with a large-scale Mass attended by over 100,000 people before departing for Papua New Guinea, marking the next phase of his extensive 11-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
After a demanding schedule in Jakarta over three days, the 87-year-old pontiff had a lighter agenda on Friday, consisting solely of a departure ceremony before embarking on a six-hour flight to Port Moresby. His visit reached its zenith with a spirited Mass on Thursday in Jakarta, where attendees packed two stadiums and spilled over into adjacent areas.
During his homily, Francis implored the crowd to persist in dreaming and to strive towards building a peaceful society, emphasizing the importance of hope and peace.
The turnout greatly surpassed expectations, with Vatican officials initially anticipating 60,000 attendees and Indonesian officials expecting 80,000. Ultimately, local organizers reported that the crowd exceeded 100,000.
Vienna Frances Florensius Basol of Sabah, Malaysia, who was unable to enter the stadium, expressed gratitude despite watching the event on a large screen in a parking lot, highlighting the special nature of the event even from the periphery.
While in Indonesia, Pope Francis aimed to bolster the spirits of the country’s 8.9 million Catholics, representing merely 3% of its total population, and to strengthen interfaith relations in the predominantly Muslim nation. A defining moment was his signing of a peace and environmental stewardship agreement with Jakarta’s grand imam.
The pope’s upcoming agenda in Papua New Guinea will focus on social justice issues in the economically challenged but populous nation. Prior to his arrival, local faith leaders expressed enthusiasm about the strengthening of their faith due to his visit.
In Papua New Guinea, Francis plans to visit remote areas to meet Catholic missionaries from Argentina and address the integration of local tribal and indigenous practices. The country is linguistically diverse and has long experienced tribal conflicts.
Environmental issues and the impacts of climate change are also on his agenda, highlighted by recent natural disasters such as a devastating landslide in May believed to be exacerbated by abnormal rainfall.
Pope Francis is the second pontiff to visit Papua New Guinea, following St. John Paul II in 1984, who also acknowledged the enduring efforts of Catholic missionaries in the region. Papua New Guinea, which gained independence from Australia in 1975, is a critical stop on Francis’ journey that also includes East Timor and Singapore before he returns to the Vatican on September 13.