Pope Francis Wraps Up Indonesia Visit with Massive Mass Event

Pope Francis concluded his visit to Indonesia with a Mass attended by over 100,000 people, before departing to Papua New Guinea as part of his Southeast Asia and Oceania tour. His trip aims to strengthen interfaith ties and promote social justice. Notably, his next stops include East Timor and Singapore.

Pope Francis ended his visit to Indonesia on Friday, culminating in a Mass attended by more than 100,000 people. This event marked the finale before he departed for Papua New Guinea, the second leg of his 11-day tour through Southeast Asia and Oceania.

The 87-year-old pontiff had no official engagements on Friday, aside from a farewell ceremony and a six-hour flight to Port Moresby. This provided a brief respite after his hectic three-day schedule in Jakarta.

During his time in Indonesia, the pope urged the faithful to 'be builders of hope and peace' and engaged in interfaith dialogue. The highlight was his joint declaration with Jakarta's grand imam to combat religiously inspired violence and protect the environment. His itinerary in Papua New Guinea aligns with his social justice mission, focusing on issues like tribal conflicts and ecological threats.

(With inputs from agencies.)