Pope Visits Papua New Guinea After Final Mass for 100,000 in Indonesia

Pope Francis concluded his visit to Indonesia on Friday after celebrating a vibrant Mass for an estimated crowd of 100,000, marking a festive farewell before departing for Papua New Guinea. This stop is part of his ambitious 11-day journey across Southeast Asia and Oceania.

On his final day in Indonesia, the 87-year-old pontiff had no scheduled events, apart from a farewell ceremony and a lengthy flight to Port Moresby, providing him with a much-needed breather after an eventful three days in Jakarta.

The highlight of his Indonesian visit came on Thursday afternoon, where he celebrated a jubilant Mass that gathered an audience overflowing into a nearby parking lot from two filled sports stadiums.

In an unscripted homily delivered during the service, Francis urged the attendees, “Don’t tire of dreaming and of building a civilization of peace. Be builders of hope. Be builders of peace.”

The Vatican initially anticipated around 60,000 participants for the Mass, while Indonesian authorities had estimated numbers closer to 80,000. However, local organizers later reported that attendance exceeded 100,000.

Vienna Frances Florensius Basol expressed her gratitude, stating, “I feel very lucky compared to other people who can’t come here or even had the intention to come here.” She traveled from Sabah, Malaysia, accompanied by a group of 40, but was unable to enter the stadium. Even from outside, she felt fortunate to witness the event via a large screen set up in the parking area.

Throughout his stay in Indonesia, Francis aimed to inspire the country’s 8.9 million Catholics, who represent only 3% of the 275 million population. He also aimed to foster interfaith dialogue in a nation known for hosting the largest Muslim population in the world.

The visit’s significant moment was the joint declaration signed with the grand imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque—the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. Together, they committed to working towards ending violence inspired by religious beliefs and protecting the environment.

As the pope travels to Papua New Guinea, he shifts focus toward social justice issues. This nation, considered strategically important in the South Pacific, is home to over 10 million people, many of whom rely on subsistence farming.

John Lavu, the choir conductor at St. Charles Luwanga parish in Port Moresby, remarked on the significance of the papal visit for his own faith. He stated, “I have lived this faith all my life, but the coming of the Holy Father, the head of the church, to Papua New Guinea and to be a witness of his coming to us is going to be very important for me in my life as a Catholic.”

During his time in Papua New Guinea, the pope plans to visit remote areas like Vanimo, where he will meet Catholic missionaries from Argentina working to share the Catholic faith with largely tribal communities that also embrace Indigenous and pagan traditions.

The diverse country, second in population size in the South Pacific after Australia, is characterized by over 800 Indigenous languages and has experienced tribal conflicts over land for centuries. In recent decades, these conflicts have intensified and become more violent.

During his visit, the pope is expected to address the need for harmony among these tribal groups, as well as raise concerns about the fragile ecosystem and natural resources that are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and climate change.

The government of Papua New Guinea has attributed extraordinary rainfall to a disastrous landslide in May that devastated a village in Enga province, claiming over 2,000 lives according to government reports, while the United Nations estimates the toll to be around 670.

Pope Francis is only the second pontiff to visit Papua New Guinea, following the visit of Saint John Paul II in 1984. On that occasion, John Paul II honored the Catholic missionaries who dedicated a century to spreading their faith in the nation.

Papua New Guinea holds a significant place in Francis’ itinerary. Following this leg of the journey, which also includes visits to East Timor and Singapore, he will return to the Vatican on September 13.

Source: AP