Pope Francis Leads Mass at GBK Stadium, Greeted by Thousands of Catholics

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican, received an overwhelming reception from approximately 87,000 Catholics at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium in Jakarta, where he presided over a grand mass. The event marked a significant moment in the Pope’s apostolic journey through the Asia-Pacific.

The mass, attended by Catholics from various regions of Indonesia, began around 5 p.m. local time. Pope Francis arrived at the GBK complex an hour earlier, where he was warmly welcomed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his aides. After a brief conversation with the president, the pontiff rode a modified Indonesia-made Maung MV3 car, which featured an open roof, allowing him to greet the gathered crowds at Madya Stadium.

As he made his way to the GBK Main Stadium, thousands of congregants chanted “Viva il Papa! Viva Papa Francesco!” (Long live the Pope! Long live Pope Francis!) in Italian, celebrating his presence. The stadium echoed with hymns, including Kristus Jaya and Ave Maria, as Pope Francis took his place to lead the mass.

This grand holy mass represented the pinnacle of Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia. Earlier, the Pope met with President Widodo at Merdeka Palace, engaged with Catholic leaders at Jakarta Cathedral, and participated in an interfaith dialogue at Istiqlal Mosque, showcasing his commitment to promoting unity and interfaith understanding.

Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia is part of a historic 12-day apostolic journey, the longest of his papacy, spanning from September 3 to September 13, 2024. Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1989, Pope Francis is the third Vatican leader to visit Indonesia.

The pontiff will continue his journey, traveling next to Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore. His visit underscores the strong bond between the Vatican and the Asia-Pacific region.