Pope calls for religious unity at stadium mass in Indonesia

Pontiff also meets Grand Imam and other faith leaders at region's biggest mosque

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Pope Francis appealed for religious unity on Sept 5 as he addressed tens of thousands of people at a football stadium after meeting faith leaders at South-east Asia's biggest mosque.

"I encourage you to sow seeds of love, confidently tread the path of dialogue, continue to show your goodness and kindness... and be builders of unity and peace," he told more than 80,000 devotees packed into the stadium in the Indonesian capital.

The 87-year-old pontiff earlier met Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar at Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque, where they signed a declaration warning against using religion to stoke conflict and appealed for action against climate change.

Pope Francis' packed schedule on Sept 5 capped the first stop of a gruelling Asia-Pacific tour, the longest of his papacy, that takes him to Papua New Guinea on Sept 6 and then to Timor-Leste and Singapore.

He appeared to be in good spirits despite fears over his health as he addressed excited Catholics, who make up about 3 per cent of the population of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslimmajority country.