September 5, 2024
JAKARTA – Pope Francis’ 12-day tour of Asia-Pacific countries may be the longest and most physically demanding yet for the 87-year-old pope, but that has not stopped him from sharing his blessings to heads of state and common people or from showing humility, a value that he has held dear throughout his life.
Pope Francis started his journey on Monday afternoon when his chartered ITA Airways aircraft took off from the Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome at 5:32 p.m. local time.
The 13-hour overnight flight passed over several European countries including Bulgaria and Serbia, the Muslim-majority nations of Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and Malaysia and Hindu-majority India.
As his aircraft passed over each country, the pope sent a telegram to its head of state to ask for prayer for his 12-day journey to Asia-Pacific countries as well as to invoke God’s blessing for them and their people.
“Fondly remembering Your Excellency’s visit to the Vatican,” the pope wrote to Bulgarian president Rumen Radev, in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“Please accept my cordial good wishes to you and the people of Bulgaria as I fly over your country on my Apolostic journey to Indonesia. I assure you of my prayers for the prosperity of the nation.”
A man holds up a banner that reads “Il Papa“ on Sept. 4, 2024, while waiting for Pope Francis’ arrival at the Jakarta Cathedral in Jakarta. PHOTO: ANTARA/THE JAKARTA POST
To Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the pope recalled their recent meeting at the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in June, while similarly invoking “abundant divine blessings” upon the country.
“As I travel over Iran, […] I send good wishes to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens,” Pope Francis also wrote to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. “Be assured of my prayers that the Almighty may abundantly bless your country with the gift of peace.”
Upon landing in Jakarta, the pope took his time before disembarking the Airbus A330 to thank his entourage – which includes bishops and journalists – for coming with him in what he called “the longest one” he has undertaken.
Display of humility
Pope Francis also did his best to greet people patiently waiting for him on the streets of Jakarta.
Dozens if not hundreds of people waited on the sidewalk to see the papal entourage, including on Wednesday morning when the pope was on his way to the Merdeka Palace for a state reception ceremony alongside President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The pope, who sits in the front seat of his car during the trip, often rolls down his window and waves to the spectators. Sometimes, his car can be seen slowing down and going closer to the sidewalk so the pontiff can shake hands with people waiting for him.
“From what I heard, he told the driver to go slowly and closer to the sidewalk. That’s the sign that he wanted to greet everyone waiting for him. It’s his love for the people,” Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo told reporters on Wednesday.
Cars assigned to Pope Francis during his visit in Jakarta have gotten significant attention and praise.
Rather than a luxurious, bullet-proof sedan, Pope Francis opted for a 2022 white multipurpose vehicle.
The pope will have a second vehicle to take on the temporary role of his iconic Popemobile: a tactical Maung MV23 produced by state-owned arms manufacturer Pindad. The car will bear a license plate that reads SCV 1, after Status Civitatis Vaticanae, or the Latin name of Vatican City.
Francis’ humility can also be seen through his choice of footwear. Since the pope’s arrival in Jakarta, Suharyo has watched the shoes Francis has worn.
Rather than the traditional red papal shoes, he wears black shoes that “look crooked” and may have been worn for a long time according to the archbishop. Pope Francis has chosen to wear black shoes since assuming the papacy in 2013, forgoing the papal tradition for his pontificate.
“That’s not a coincidence. That’s his choice […] to live modestly,” Suharyo said.
Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who greeted the pope at the airport on Tuesday, called on the people to learn from the example he sets.
Pope Francis also met with members of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuit order to which he belongs, and addressed the local Catholic community at the Our Lady of the Assumption cathedral, more commonly known as the Jakarta Cathedral.
On Thursday, he will go to Istiqlal Mosque to sign a joint declaration of humanity with the mosque’s grand imam and lead a Mass at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, before leaving for Papua New Guinea on Friday.