Jakarta. Pope Francis urged Catholics to embrace true discipleship by both listening to and living the Word of God during a historic mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. Addressing tens of thousands of worshippers, he emphasized the need for faith that transforms lives and fosters peace, marking his first visit to Indonesia since 1989.

“The encounter with Jesus calls us to live out two fundamental attitudes: listening to the word and living the word. First, listening, because everything comes from listening, from opening ourselves to him, welcoming the precious gift of his friendship. Then it is important to live the word we have received,” the Pope said in Italian.

He warned against merely hearing the Word without letting it penetrate the heart and change one's life. “The word given, and received through listening, wishes to become life in us, transform us, and become incarnate in our lives,” he added.

The Pope encouraged perseverance in faith despite challenges, urging the faithful to continue sowing seeds of love and peace. Echoing St. Teresa of Calcutta, he reassured that even small efforts are valuable and urged Indonesians to remain steadfast in their journey toward peace and unity.

The grand mass, attended by 60,000 in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and 26,000 in the adjacent Madya Stadium, was a rare and special occasion for Indonesian Catholics, with the last papal visit to the country occurring in 1989.

Upon arrival at Madya Stadium, Pope Francis was greeted by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and other government officials. He then embarked on an open-top "Maung MV3" Popemobile ride with Jakarta Archbishop Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, waving to the enthusiastic crowd and receiving cheers and hymns such as "Viva Il Papa" and "Ave Maria." The crowd also displayed the Indonesian and Vatican flags.

President Jokowi congratulated Indonesian Catholics on the rare opportunity to attend a mass with the Pope, emphasizing the role of Catholics in fostering unity and tolerance in Indonesia. “Catholics in Indonesia are a crucial part of our nation in maintaining unity, spreading love, and tolerance,” Widodo said.

Following this historic visit, Pope Francis will travel to Papua New Guinea on Friday for the next leg of his trip, which includes visits to East Timor and Singapore, concluding on September 13.