JAKARTA. More than 80,000 people gathered at Indonesia’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Thursday to attend a Catholic Mass led by Pope Francis, an extraordinary turnout in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. The 87-year-old pontiff’s visit to Jakarta marks the first stop of his 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, which includes East Timor, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea.
The atmosphere was electric, with Catholic nuns, students, and elderly attendees from across the archipelago filling the stadium. “The Pope’s presence is like Jesus’ presence,” said Mami Yuli, a transgender woman dressed in a sparkly gown and feathered headdress. Yuli, along with other Indonesian Christians, came to hear the Pope’s powerful homily, which called for tolerance and unity. “Given his important message of tolerance, we hope the church and the people can judge us positively,” she added. Speaking on the challenges faced by the transgender community in Indonesia, Yuli shared, “We endure a lot of pressure, and that limits our movement as transwomen in Indonesia.”
Pope Francis’ message emphasized fraternity and peace, urging the crowd to be “builders of unity.” Addressing the gathering from a stage adorned with a golden cross, he encouraged his followers, “I encourage you to sow seeds of love, confidently tread the path of dialogue, continue to show your goodness and kindness. Be builders of unity. Be builders of peace.”
The Mass was a highlight of the Pope’s four-day visit to Jakarta, where he also signed a declaration at the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, advocating for climate action and interfaith dialogue to combat conflict. Indonesia, home to 280 million people, recognizes six official religions, with Muslims comprising 87% of the population. Despite the challenges of being a religious minority, Christians were thrilled to see the Pope in their country. Sister Maria Ambrosia, who traveled hundreds of kilometers from Sumatra, expressed her joy: “What’s most important to me is that he’s humble and full of joy. I have tons of hope and happiness.”
Pope Francis’ visit has also fostered goodwill between religious communities. In a gesture of respect, national broadcasters were advised to display the Islamic call to prayer as a text rather than airing it, so as not to disrupt the Mass. The Pope’s meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo earlier in the week focused on religious tolerance, with Francis urging leaders to resist the rise of extremism.
The event underscored Pope Francis’ global message of unity, peace, and interfaith cooperation in a region often marked by religious diversity and political complexity.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
