Through A Letter, Megawati Remembers Her Meeting With Pope Francis At The Vatican

The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri was accompanied by her daughter, Puan Maharani when she met Pope Francis. (Ist)

JAKARTA - The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri mourned the death of Pope Francis today, Monday, April 21. He sent a letter to the Vatican's Holy See Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN, Piero Pioppo.

"Together, I am Megawati Soekarnoputri, the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia, expressing my deep condolences for the death of Sri Pope Francis," Megawati was quoted as saying in a letter sent.

Megawati said Pope Francis was not only a religious figure for Catholics. "But also for the world," said the PDIP General Chair.

According to Megawati, Pope Francis is widely admired because of his thoughts and roles in building brotherhood and equality between human beings around the world. Thus, the loss must be felt not only by him but also by all Indonesian people.

In the letter, Megawati also recalled the moment with Pope Francis. "Especially when he was with the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Egypt, Prof. Ahmed el Thayeb gave me confidence as Juri Zayed Award in 2024," he wrote.

Megawati also admitted that she would not forget her meeting at the Vatican on February 7.

"And of course I will never forget my special meeting with Pope Francis at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican, on February 7, 2025. And his trust in me to become President of Scholas Occurentes Indonesia and Asia," he said.

"Goodbye Sri Pope Francis, I and the Indonesian nation will always remember the services of Holy Father to the world. May the spirit of the late Sri Pope Francis be peaceful and have a noble place in the side of Almighty God."

This letter was also copied to the Indonesian Church Guardian Conference (KWI) in Jakarta.

As previously reported, Pope Francis, who was the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church from Latin America, died at the age of 88. He recently left the hospital after undergoing treatment due to a serious double pneumonia attack.

The Pope was treated at Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy on February 13 and allowed to return home on March 23.

"Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican TV channel.

"At 7.35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to Father's house," the announcement continued.