Pope Francis In Indonesia: A Simplicity Inspiration From Catholic Leaders

Pope Francis while visiting the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta on September 5, 2024, accompanied by the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasarrudin Umar. (ANTARA/INDONESIA PAPAL VISIT COMMITTEE)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis' visit has often been eagerly awaited by Catholics around the world. Indonesia, especially. The arrival of the great leader of Catholics to Indonesia was hailed as the glue of diversity. He gave the meaning of love.

Instead of just love alone, Pope Francis' arrival also taught important lessons related to simplicity. He came to Indonesia with a simple appearance. No luxury attached to his visit. Everything is normal, from car to inn.

Pope Francis' life has often captured the world's attention. His views regarding humanity are his cause. His concern for humanity does not only overtake service debris. He dared to be noisy and criticize the world's big problems.

He strongly criticized capitalism, war, the death penalty, slavery, human trafficking, and poverty. He also paid more attention to migrants who fled his countries such as the Rohingya and Uighur ethnic groups.

Pope Francis did not hesitate to invite the world to unite against the COVID-19 pandemic. This brave attitude has always been in the memory of many people. Instead of being loved only by Catholics, Francis may be loved by cross-religious people.

This love for religious people was present during Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia on September 3-6, 2024. The Pope, who in fact is a big Catholic leader, visited a country that is actually a minority Catholic.

His arrival in the Muslim majority country was greeted with great fanfare. People crowd the streets that the Pope crosses in Jakarta. The Pope is happy to wave. Sometimes he distributes the rosario. Sometimes also distributes candy.

He visited many places in Indonesia. He headed to the Cathedral Church, the Istiqlal Mosque, and held a Grand Mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (GBK).

All of his agenda went smoothly without interruption. The Pope was amazed by the spirit of the Indonesian people. In fact, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) welcomed him with joy.

I am on behalf of the Indonesian people, welcoming and thank you for the visit of the Most honorable Pope Francis to Indonesia. Welcome Your Excellency Sri Pope Francis to Indonesia. This visit is a very historic visit, it was planned several years ago but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,"

"During his four-day visit, His Majesty Sri Pope will hold a state meeting, a meeting with the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the community, a meeting with interfaith figures at the Istiqlal Mosque, as well as the holy mass," Jokowi said in his statement as quoted by the presidential.go.id page, September 3, 2024.

The Pope's arrival in Indonesia does not only contain stories related to diplomatic meetings. His presence actually provides a very big lesson for the Indonesian people. This valuable lesson is simplicity.

A lesson of simplicity is very important in the midst of Indonesian political elites who often exhibit luxury. The Pope's arrival to Indonesia did not even use private jets. He came to Indonesia on a commercial ITA Airways plane.

The Pope also rejected all the facilities and luxury offered by the Indonesian government. He only relies on rides from the usual Toyota Innova Zenix car with the SVC-1 plate. He also only decided to stay at the Vatican Embassy, not in a five-star hotel.

The clothes he wears are also common. He wrapped himself simply. He wore a regular Casio-branded watch. The simplicity has been pubbed for a long time, but the simplicity of the visit to Indonesia has caught the attention of many people.

Many also compare the simplicity of the world's humanitarian figures with the behavior of Indonesian political elites. Pope Francis can look simple. Political elites are like competing to show off luxury.

Fransiskus wrapped himself in simple clothes. He broke down a number of traditions of his predecessors. Instead of wearing white pants, Francis chose black pants. Markus Solo Kewuta, the priest from Indonesia who accompanied the Pope, said that Francis prepared enough pants for two weeks of travel.

The Francis Pope also always wore black shoes. During his visit, there were two shoes that he brought. Black pants and shoes are commonly worn by the tahbis, namely bishops, priests, and diakons (one stage before becoming a priest). Meanwhile, Fransiskus' predecessors wore white pants and red shoes -the symbol of the king's position in Roman times," said Francisca Christy Rosana in her article in Tempo magazine entitled Meaning Pope Francis' visit (2024).

Pope Francis died at his residence, Saint Martha House, Vatican on April 21, 2025. The Argentine Catholic priest whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died at the age of 88. Pope Francis has served since March 13, 2013, replacing Pope Benedict XVI who resigned.