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Over 80,000 Attend Pope's Mass in Jakarta
WINDONESIA September 27, 2024
Pope Francis attends the holy mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on September 5, 2024. (AFP/Achmad Ibrahim)
Pope Francis drew more than 80,000 people to attend a Catholic Mass at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) stadium in the world’s most pope-majority Muslim country on Sept. 5, 2024.
The event was the culmination of the 87-year-old pontiff’s four days in Jakarta on the first stop of a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with stops in East Timor, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea.
“The presence of the Pope is like the presence of Jesus,” transgender woman Mami Yuli said, wearing a sparkling gown and feathered head covering, one of thousands of Christians who gathered to hear the pontiff’s rousing homily.
“Given his important message of tolerance, we hope the church and the faithful can view us positively,” she added, speaking of the group that continues to face discrimination from religious conservatives.
“We bear a lot of pressure and it limits our activities as transgender women in Indonesia.”
Catholic nuns in their habits, students, and senior citizens packed the GBK stadium, with church officials stating that 87,000 tickets for the Mass were distributed across Indonesia.
Prior to the mass, Pope Francis visited the Istiqlal Mosque to sign a declaration on tackling climate change and promoting interfaith dialogue to resolve conflicts.
Christians are a small minority in Indonesia, with the Muslims majority accounting for 87 percent of the country's approximately 280 million population. Freedom of religion is enshrined in the Indonesian constitution, but the country also only recognizes six official religions that include Catholic Christianity.
Speaking from a white stage, with a golden cross in the background, the pope urged his audience to always strive for brotherhood.
"I encourage you to sow seeds of love, confidently tread the path of dialogue, continue to show your goodness and kindness," he said. "Be builders of unity. Be builders of peace."
Francis met with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Sep. 4, 2024, and urged political leaders to be vigilant against religious extremism.
As a sign of respect, the government advised national broadcasters not to broadcast the call to prayer during the Mass, but instead to broadcast it on television with the following text so as not to disrupt the occasion.
"The most important thing for me is that he is humble and full of joy," Sister Maria Ambrosia, who traveled hundreds of kilometers from Sumatra to attend, said . "I have a lot of hope and happiness."
A sea of Indonesian and Vatican flags waved by worshippers greeted him in the blazing sun as he ended a busy schedule in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.
Francis gave his blessings to several children as he toured the stadium in a tactical vehicle. Images of the Pope, from Mass books to T-shirts, hats, and rosaries, were everywhere as Indonesian Catholic Christians rejoiced at his presence.
Those in attendance were the fortunate ones who were selected to join the expedition through invitations distributed to their churches.
"Viva Il Papa! Viva Papa Francesco!" the crowd shouted from the stands.
Caecilia Tutyandari, 51, waved a fan adorned with the Pope's face.
"I wanted to see the Pope in person, this is the first time! I am very touched," she said.
"This is a dream come true. That's why I have so many tissues here!" she added with a laugh.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
