Jakarta, Sep 5 (EFE).- The Pope Francis celebrated a mass this Thursday for about 100,000 people who filled Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and the adjacent Madya Stadium and who in his homily asked to continue “building a civilization of peace”.
Despite the heat and humidity in the Indonesian capital, the Pope traveled in the popemobile for more than 45 minutes to the Madya stadium, where nearly 40,000 faithful followed the mass on screens, and then headed to the largest stadium in the capital, where another 60,000 were waiting to greet him with great enthusiasm with songs and choirs.
The Catholic faithful, who They represent 3.1% of this Muslim-majority country – some 8 million – came from all parishes in Indonesia, many of them from the ‘Catholic’ Flores, with one of the largest communities in the country, but also from Papua, dressed in their traditional costumes.
Like Paulina Dessy Wulandari, 39, her husband Krisanto Grahadi, 37, and their children Stevie, 6, and Abigail, 2, who had been waiting patiently for several hours for the Pope to arrive in their matching white T-shirts. “At my workplace it is pluralthere are not only Catholics. And my colleagues think that The Pope brings peace. So There is not a single negative feeling towards him. So it’s a bearer of peace“Krisanto said.
“We pray for him every Sunday during Mass. So his visit is a blessing for us. I am so grateful that he was able to come here. It is a blessing that from this rare moment, We can show that Indonesia is a pluralistic countrya country of peace and harmony. The Holy Father is also a very humble person. From these values that he brings, we can set him as an example for our children,” Dessy added.
Pope Francis, 87, invited the faithful during the homily “to build a more just societyadvance on the path of peace and of the dialoguea call that has been proposed here in Indonesia for a long time.”
“Saint Teresa of Calcutta, whose memory we celebrate today, who tirelessly cared for the poorest and promoted peace and dialogue, said: ‘When we have nothing to give, let us give that nothing. And remember, even if you have nothing to reap, never tire of sowing,’” the pontiff recalled.
“I would also like to say to you, to this nation, to this wonderful and varied archipelago, do not tire of setting sail and casting your nets, do not tire of dreaming and continue building a civilization of peace“Always dare to dream of fraternity,” Francis added to Indonesian Catholics.
He also said, “I encourage you to sow love, to confidently follow the path of dialogue, to continue to show your kindness and goodness with the typical smile that characterizes you, to be builders of unity and peace. And in this way you will spread the fragrance of hope in your surroundings.”
With this Mass, Francis concluded his visit to Indonesia and this Friday he will continue his journey through Asia and Oceania and travel to Papua New Guinea.
(With information from EFE and photos from Reuters)
