Pope Francis concluded his visit to Indonesia on Friday, leaving behind a nation moved by his message of peace and interfaith dialogue, The Associated Press reports.
The 87-year-old pontiff celebrated Mass before an overflow crowd of 100,000, marking the end of a three-day program in Jakarta, with Friday dedicated to a farewell ceremony and the six-hour flight to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, for the next leg of his 11-day journey.
The final Mass in Jakarta was a jubilant event, filling two sports stadiums and overflowing into a parking lot.
“Don’t tire of dreaming and of building a civilization of peace,” Pope Francis urged the crowd in his ad-libbed homily. “Be builders of hope. Be builders of peace.”
During his time in Indonesia, Pope Francis stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue, particularly with the country’s large Muslim population. He signed a joint declaration with the grand imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, pledging to work together to combat religiously-motivated violence and protect the environment.
Papua New Guinea: A Focus on Social Justice and Environmental Concerns
Pope now heads to Papua New Guinea, where he will shift his focus to social justice issues. The South Pacific nation of over 10 million people, faces poverty, tribal conflicts, and the threat of climate change.
Pope Francis will visit remote Vanimo, where Argentine Catholic missionaries are working to spread the faith among tribal communities. His message is expected to address the need for harmony among tribal groups, particularly relevant given the recent devastating landslide in Enga province.
This visit marks only the second time a Pope has visited Papua New Guinea, with St. John Paul II visiting in 1984. Francis will then continue his four-nation tour, visiting East Timor and Singapore before returning to the Vatican on September 13.
