Pope Francis Shows Concern For Marginals In Indonesia

Pope Francis paid attention to marginalized and marginalized. (INDONESIA PAPAPAL VISIT COMMITTEE)

JAKARTA - After landing in Indonesia Tuesday afternoon, September 3, Pope Francis was greeted by orphans, sick people, and refugees at the Vatican Embassy (Nunciatura) complex in Central Jakarta. During the event, the Holy Father greeted approximately 40 people from the marginal group.

The activity took place briefly but warmly. By placing the meeting immediately after his arrival, Pope Francis once again showed deep concern for groups that were often invisible and underprivileged.

"On the first day, even Sri Pope's first agenda in Indonesia was to greet people on the outskirts of existence. The Pope has always paid special attention to the poor, abandoned, refugees, and victims of human trafficking," said Rm Martinus Dam Febrianto SJ, Indonesia Country Director, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), in a written statement received by VOI Wednesday, September 4.

Pope Francis' attention to marginal groups has been poured in the 2013 Gaudium Evangelii, shortly after he was elected to be the leader of the world's Catholics. Here's an excerpt:

"It is very necessary to pay attention and get closer to new forms of poverty and vulnerability, where the suffering Christ is in it and we are called to recognize Him, even if attempts to recognize Him do not seem to provide us with real and direct benefits."

I think about the homeless, napza addicts, refugees, natives, and many others. Migrants gave me a special challenge, because I am the priest of a borderless church, a church that considers herself a mother to all."

"Therefore, I call on every country to have a generous openness that will be able to create new forms of cultural synthesis without fear of losing local identity."

Building cross-border brotherhood

The Kolese Jesuit Alumni Association (PAKJ) is an organization that accommodates alumni of the educational institutions of the Jesus Union (SJ) in Indonesia. PAKJ has a mission to build cross-border brotherhood through a collaborative spirit with all groups.

PAKJ consists of alumni of the Kolese Kanisius (Jakarta), Kolese Gonzaga (Jakarta), Kolese de Britto (Yogyakarta), SMK Pendidikan Industri Kayu Atas (PIKA - Semarang), Kolese Loyola (Semarang), Kolese Mikael/Politeknik ATMI (Solo & Cikarang), Le Cocq d'Armandville (Nabire), Seminari Mertoyudan (Magelang), and Sanata Dharma University (Yogyakarta).