Pope Francis Urges Catholics in Indonesia to “Live the Word” at Mass for 100,000 Faithful

In a historic celebration of faith, Pope Francis addressed a crowd of approximately 100,000 people during a Mass in Jakarta, urging Catholics to not only listen to the Word of God but to actively live it. The Mass marked a pivotal moment in the Holy Father’s pastoral visit to Indonesia, his first to the Southeast Asian nation, emphasizing themes of hope, peace, and unity in one of the world’s most religiously diverse countries.

In his homily, Pope Francis encouraged the faithful to embrace two core attitudes necessary for discipleship: listening to God’s Word and living it. He began by stressing the importance of first listening attentively to God’s message. “Everything begins with listening,” the Pope stated. “Listening to Him, opening ourselves up to Him, and welcoming the precious gift of His friendship.”

The Holy Father then emphasized the risk of being “vain listeners” who hear but do not act. “The Word that is given to us demands to become life, to transform our lives, to become incarnate in our lives,” he said. He urged believers to allow the Word of God to change their way of thinking, feeling, and acting, warning against superficial religiosity.

Pope Francis’s words came as he was wrapping his visit to Indonesia, the first stop of the longest, arguably most grueling trip of his pontificate: a 12-day sprawling tour that will take him to four missionary countries: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore.

Pope Francis’ reflection on the Gospel account of the fishermen with empty nets resonated with many in the crowd, particularly as he acknowledged the frustrations and failures of everyday life. He pointed to the experience of Peter, who, despite a night of fruitless labor, obeyed Jesus’ call to “put out into the deep.” The Pope cited Peter’s trust in Jesus as a model for perseverance: “Instead of remaining paralyzed by failure, Peter says, ‘Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at your word, I will let down the nets’ (Luke 5:5).”

The homily also touched on the broader significance of the Pope’s visit to Indonesia, a country long recognized for its commitment to interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding. “In the midst of the noise and vanity of human words, there is a need for the Word of God, the only one that is a compass for our journey,” Pope Francis said, praising the Indonesian people’s dedication to peace and harmony in their diverse society.

Since his arrival in Jakarta on Sept. 3, Francis repeatedly extolled the long history of Catholics and Muslims living harmoniously alongside one another and encouraged them to see their differences as a strength. Before the Mass, he had visited the largest mosque in Southeast Asia to sign “The Istiqlal Declaration,” a short document committing members of both religious communities to defend human dignity, especially when threatened with violence, and to defend the integrity of creation.

Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, welcomed the pope to the mosque compound on Sept. 5 and led him directly to the “tunnel of friendship,” a wide underground walkway that connects the mosque and the Catholic cathedral across the busy street.

Addressing the challenges of daily life and the difficulties in building a just society, the Pope encouraged the Indonesian faithful not to become prisoners of their failures. “Instead of fixing our gaze on our empty nets, let us look to Jesus and trust in Him,” he said, calling on the crowd to take courage from Christ’s example and to “run the risk” of living out the Gospel message in their own lives.

As the Mass came to a close, Pope Francis offered words of encouragement and hope, particularly for the younger generation and for those working toward peace in Indonesia. “Don’t grow tired of dreaming, don’t grow tired of casting your nets, don’t grow tired of building a civilization of peace!” he proclaimed. “Always dare to dream of fraternity, a true treasure among you.”

The Pope also paid tribute to St. Teresa of Calcutta, whose memorial was celebrated on the same day, quoting her words: “Even if we have nothing to give, let us give that nothing. And remember: even if you don’t harvest anything, never grow tired of sowing.”

Before concluding the Mass, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the people of Indonesia, Church leaders, and civil authorities for their warm welcome during his visit. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to the President of the Republic, who was present today, and to all the civil authorities and law enforcement. And to all of you, dear brothers and sisters, make some noise! Make some noise for the Gospel!” he encouraged, referencing the fervor of the early Christians during Pentecost.

As Pope Francis continues his visit, his message of living the Word and trusting in God’s plan resonates deeply with the faithful, leaving a lasting impact on a nation striving to build peace, justice, and fraternity in a multicultural world.