The surprising welcome of the Lebanese people, whom Leone XIV praised for the “simplicity” of their faith. They recognised him as a “man of God full of zeal and compassion”. Beirut's efforts to make peace with Israel (and the US). A land of encounter between Islam and Christianity, it must also become a pioneer of Christian unity.
While the whole country still has in its eyes the more than 600,000 people at yesterday's Mass, this morning - in his last appointment in East Timor - Francis met with young people, inviting them to ‘make noise’ to build the future without letting themselves be overcome by individualism. Then the departure for Singapore where the pontiff arrived in the early afternoon.
On the third stage of his apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania, Francis landed today in Timor-Leste, a country fully independent only since 2002. The pontiff praised "the commitment to achieve full reconciliation” with Indonesia, an example to the world. But he also called for “faith to be your culture” to find answers to social ills like poverty, gang violence, and child abuse.
The appeal at the Angelus at the end of the Mass celebrated at the Port Moresby stadium. The message to the Papuan faithful: ‘You are not isolated, the Lord is close here too’. In the extreme frontier of Vanimo the meeting with the missionaries, recalling the example of the martyr John Mazzucconi, ready to do anything to bring the Gospel's message of salvation. Along with that of the local catechist Peter To Rot, also blessed, who gave his life to defend the unity of the family.
The city where the pontiff will go tomorrow is located in a particularly remote area. Francis has expressly asked to add this stop to be able to meet the faithful of the diocese, but also the priests and religious of the Argentine Institute of the Incarnate Word in the parish of Baro, where he has contributed to the construction of a secondary school. The presence of Indonesian missionaries also among those who fled from across the border.
In the Oceania archipelago marked by intensive exploitation by large multinationals, the pontiff urges ‘sustainable and equitable development’. The call to the political community to work together so that the ‘tribal violence that causes many victims’ may cease. The invitation to the Church to have the strength to ‘always begin again’, to reach the most remote physical and human peripheries, including the victims of witchcraft accusations. The call to the blessed martyrs John Mazzucconi and Peter To Rot.
Hundreds of people accompanied the journey from the airport to the nunciature. Some have walked for a week from the country’s remotest to be present. For the Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, Fr Giorgio Licini, youth unemployment and the victims of witchcraft are some of the issues, “which we hope Francis will address.”
Archbishop Martinelli stresses to AsiaNews the link that makes the declaration signed yesterday in Jakarta and the 2019 text on human fraternity‘different and complementary’. In a world marked by war ‘the danger is getting used to dehumanisation’. Strong ‘symbols’ such as the Tunnel of Friendship or the Abrahamic House are essential. From the Pope also the call to look in depth’ in interreligious dialogue, returning “to the question of God as a fundamental human question”.
“Proclaiming the Gospel does not mean imposing or opposing one's faith to that of others," Francis said in his meeting with bishops, clergy, and pastoral workers in Jakarta cathedral. Calling a catechist to him, he said that catechists carry the Church forward. “What keeps the world going is not the self-interest, it is the charity that is given.”
In Francis' address to the country's authorities and diplomatic corps, the appeal to the Indonesian Constitution against the extremism and intolerance that today in the world takes the form of bloody conflicts. The call for God's blessing ‘not to count on our own strength alone’. His meeting with President Joko Widodo and his good wishes for his successor Prabowo Subianto.
The Jesuit, a well-known member of the Indonesian Church, speaks about what Francis will say tomorrow in Jakarta to the authorities and the local Catholic community. The most important issues today are “friendship between religions and care for the environment.” This trip is different from the John Paul II's in 1989, when Suharto was still in power. For Fr Magnis-Suseno, “The danger today is called oligarchy,” but he has faith in the future.
A ceremony at Sukarno-Hatta airport, before transfer to the nunciature. The people of Jakarta impressed by Francis' extreme simplicity. During the thirteen-hour flight, the pontiff was also presented with a reproduction of the Xi'an stele, testimony to the ancient roots of Christianity in China.
The pontiff left Rome on the long flight to Jakarta. Tomorrow he will arrive at the nunciature; on Wednesday morning, he will be officially welcomed at the Presidential Palace. For President Joko Widodo, Francis is a “top figure” with whom he will discuss global issues, like Ukraine and Gaza". Much hope is placed in the meeting with the Grand Imam Nazaruddin Umar with whom the pontiff will sign a joint declaration after walking through the tunnel that connects the capital’s main mosque to the Catholic cathedral.
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