Outpouring of grief over Pope Francis death in largest Muslim majority country Indonesia

JAKARTA - Pope Franciss death has elicited an outpouring of grief in Indonesia, with tributes in the worlds largest Muslim-majority country praising the pontiffs commitment to interfaith harmony and his stance on Israels military offensive in Gaza.

Prominent Islamic groups in Indonesia, where around 90% of the 280 million population is Muslim, and the general public praised the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in public statements and social media posts.

His demands to stop the (Gaza) genocide, his ideas on peace, and his great desire for human fraternity - they are all in line with the councils values, said Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, an official at Indonesias highest council of clerics.

In his last Easter Sunday message, a day before he died after suffering a stroke, Francis, 88, reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Francis had been ramping up criticism of Israels military campaign in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave very serious and shameful in January.

Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesias largest Islamic organisation of roughly 40 million members, considered to be one of the largest in the world, sent its condolences.

Pope Francis was tireless in his efforts to turn the Catholic church into the caretaker and defender of humanity, chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf said.

Muhammadiyah, Indonesias second-largest Muslim group, also joined the chorus of grief.

I hope the inspiration and steps that Pope Francis has taken for humanity and peace can become a push for massive global peace and order, chairman Haedar Nashir said in a statement.

Francis arrived in Jakarta last year with a message of interfaith harmony, telling Indonesias political leaders that the Catholic Church would increase its efforts toward inter-religious dialogue in hopes of helping tamp down extremism.

The message is consistent with Francis stance, having said equating Islam with