Jakarta — Pope Francis, the supreme leader of the Catholic Church and head of the Vatican, toured Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium in Jakarta on Thursday, August 5, using Indonesia’s national vehicle, the Maung MV3, designed by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and produced by PT Pindad. The Pope used the modified Maung to greet around 87,000 attendees present for the grand Mass at GBK.
Pope Francis was warmly welcomed by President Joko Widodo upon his arrival at GBK, with the two exchanging greetings and handshakes. Shortly after, the Pope switched to the specially modified white Maung MV3, designed under Prabowo’s direction.
Several modifications were made to the Maung to accommodate the Pope’s needs. The seat was ergonomically designed and able to rotate, allowing Pope Francis to greet people on his right, left, and behind. The seat base was also covered in a red carpet as a mark of honor for the Pope.
As the Maung vehicle carrying Pope Francis made its way towards the GBK Madya Stadium, the sound of 87,000 attendees shouting “Viva il Papa” filled the air.
“Viva il Papa, Viva il Papa Francisco” chanted thousands of Catholic faithful, welcoming Pope Francis to GBK Stadium.
“Viva il Papa” is a traditional Catholic phrase used when addressing the Pope, meaning “Long live the Pope” in English or “Panjang Umur untuk Paus Fransiskus” in Indonesian.
During the procession, Pope Francis took the opportunity to greet and bless several of the faithful from the Maung vehicle.
Regarding the Maung MV3 used for the Pope’s visit, PT Pindad CEO Abraham Mose explained that several modifications were made to suit the occasion, including a foldable staircase for easy access, a main seat in the rear, a sunroof for the driver’s cabin, a rear step for the Pope’s guards, a roof protector for rain, and foldable rear seats for the Pope’s assistants.
The engine specifications remained unchanged, with the Maung MV3 powered by a 2,200 cc turbo diesel engine capable of safely reaching speeds of 100 km/h and producing a maximum output of 199 horsepower. (RR)