On September 5, the last day of his apostolic journey to Indonesia, Pope Francis participated in three significant events before continuing his trip through Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.
First, at the “Istiqlal” mosque in Jakarta, the largest in Southeast Asia, he participated in an interreligious meeting and visited the “tunnel of friendship” that connects the mosque to the Catholic cathedral. Here, the “Istiqlal 2024 Joint Declaration” was signed, a historic document that advocates the promotion of a culture of respect and interreligious dialogue to combat violence and climate change.
The Pope then met with beneficiaries of charitable organizations at the headquarters of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, where he stressed the importance of solidarity and mutual support. The testimonies of people with disabilities were the focus of this event, underlining the value of each individual and God’s love for all.
Finally, the day concluded with a mass at the “Gelora Bung Karno” stadium before 70 thousand faithful, where the Pope encouraged Catholics to follow the path of dialogue and evangelization, recalling the teachings of St. Teresa of Calcutta on generosity and perseverance.
In his speeches, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of interreligious dialogue and the fight against fundamentalism, advocating a united and peaceful humanity.
