Pope Francis attracted over 80,000 people to a Catholic Mass at Indonesia’s national stadium during his visit to Indonesia, a rare feat in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, Reuters reports.
The Mass marked the highlight of the 87-year-old pope’s four-day stay in Jakarta, the first stop of his 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. The 87-year-old pontiff delivered a message of tolerance, unity, and peace to the diverse crowd, including Christians who make up a small minority in Indonesia. Francis also visited Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque to sign a declaration on climate change and promote interfaith dialogue.
The pope also met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and urged leaders to resist religious extremism. The Indonesian government even adjusted TV broadcasting schedules to accommodate the Mass.
