Jakarta — Filled with euphoria from all Catholics in Indonesia, Pope Francis delivered a touching message during the Grand Mass at GBK so that the congregation should not give up easily when facing any difficulties.
Pope Francis delivered a homily during the Great Mass at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Main Stadium, Jakarta, in front of around 60 thousand Catholics.
For your information, a homily is a kind of sermon delivered during mass, which starts from the gospel.
In the homily, Pope Francis emphasized an important message regarding how people should not give up easily and always believe that they have the opportunity to rise again after failure.
Not only that, but the highest leader of the Catholic Church also advised Indonesia to never tire of spreading its nets to maintain diversity and harmony to walk together for the good of society.
Despite many difficulties, Pope Francis invited the congregation to learn from Peter’s attitude to continue casting down the nets even though he initially caught nothing.
“Of course, there will always be difficulties and reasons to say no,” the Pope said.
“But let us look once again at Peter’s attitude: coming from a difficult night when he had caught nothing, tired and disappointed, but, rather than remaining as if paralyzed in a sense of emptiness or hindered by his own failures,” he added.
Then, Pope Francis quoted how Peter said.
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing. But at your command I will let down the nets” (v. 5),” he said.
“At your command I will let down the nets. Then, something surprising happens, namely the miracle of the boat being filled with fish to the point of almost sinking (cf. v. 7),” he said.
The atmosphere of the Grand Mass itself seemed very full of euphoria that filled the GBK Stadium today.
The reason is, the event is an important moment for Catholics in Indonesia so that all of them welcomed Pope Francis’ visit with great enthusiasm and joy.
Tens of thousands of Indonesian Catholics flocked to welcome the arrival of the Supreme Leader of the World Catholic Church.
One of them, a Catholic from Jakarta named Yohana Putri (23) said she was very happy because she could attend the grand mass.
“I am happy to be able to attend the grand mass at GBK, together with other Catholics,” he said.
Fransen (32), as a Catholic, also admitted that he really wanted to see firsthand what this charismatic religious leader was like.
“I want to see the Pope. Thank God I can see him directly even though I have to jostle,” said Fransen, who comes from East Nusa Tenggara.
