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As Pope Francis arrives in Papua New Guinea, Indonesian police report they detained seven individuals in connection with a foiled attack plot.
Upon entering the stadium in a wheelchair, Pope Francis was immediately greeted by loud cheers and cries of “Viva Papa!” from a 60,000-strong crowd.
“Proclaiming the Gospel … [means] giving and sharing the joy of encountering Christ always with great respect and fraternal affection for everyone,” he said.
On Pope Francis’ first full day of public appearances in Indonesia on Wednesday, the pope called upon the political leaders of the world’s largest Muslim country to protect the country’s delicate balance of many cultures and religions by respecting the human rights of all, including minorities.
Pope Francis arrived Tuesday in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, the first stop in the pope’s four-country tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. The trip is expected to be the longest and most challenging international voyage of his pontificate to date.
Pope Francis will embark on an 11-day trip on Sept. 2 that will bring him to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste (East Timor), and Singapore.