This is what our sisters write to us:
‘The visit of Pope Francis is a moment of joy, of emotion for all Christians and especially for the Sisters of Charity in Indonesia.
It is true that we are far from Jakarta where all the meetings with the pope will take place, but every event we have attended online thanks to technology which is ‘a gift from God’ says the pope’.
We asked Sr Emile, what effect is Pope Francis’ trip having on people?
‘Not only are Catholics experiencing the joy of meeting the pope but I can say that all of us Indonesians are happy and feel honoured to be visited by the pope. We were able to follow through the various social platforms how so many Indonesians joined the Christians and took to the streets to wait for the pope. Among all, I would like to point out a Muslim woman who said she was very happy to be able to touch the pope’s hand to receive the Rosary.
For us faithful Indonesians, meeting Pope Francis was an experience of sons and daughters telling their father everything in their hearts: the hope, the struggles, the joy… Each meeting with the pope was truly desired, awaited and therefore full of emotion.
Even now, when the pope’s visit has already been over for days, wherever we go, we hear people talking about him, just as they are still talking about him in the media.
Indonesians appreciated Pope Francis’ simple style: he did not use a private plane and did not want a car with bullet-proof windows during his visit to Indonesia. He chose the ‘innova zenit’ model, very popular among Indonesian families. This style made a big impact, when political leaders rather use super-equipped cars. From the always open windows of his car, the pope was thus able to bless and greet those waiting for him along the way, like a shepherd who smells of sheep, just like the theme of his visit: faith, fraternity and compassion.
This even led to small miracles of conversion: a young man with an alcohol problem, who owns the same make of car used by the pope, felt deeply honoured to own the same car, which he now considers blessed. He thus decided to try to get out of this addiction. The pope’s example of simplicity, in other words, challenges our certainties: let us hope that his teaching will lead to our conversion, day after day.
We also very much appreciated the fact that the pope wanted to emphasise the beauty of Indonesia: our country is a mixture of various ethnic groups, languages, traditions, which make up a mosaic, where everyone must find their place and no one must remain outside. On many occasions, the pope has taken up our motto: ‘bhineka tunggal ika’, that is, unity in diversity. His presence, his words, his style really touched our hearts, made us realise the dream of our ancestors about unity in diversity.
Were the communities of the Sisters able to participate in any events?
Sr. Ria and Sr. Marsiana participated in the Holy Mass in Jakarta presided over by the Pope, attended by more than 80,000 people.
It was raining before the celebration began. A priest asked to invoke Mary’s intercession with a decade of the Rosary.
By the start of the Mass it stopped raining and it was fine weather throughout the celebration: God is close to the Indonesian people, also through the Pope’s closeness.
